GB men equalise late to draw with South Africa

The sixth meeting of Great Britain and South Africa in an Olympic games proved to be a compelling encounter, with Scotland’s Lee Morton playing his part. GB’s men came from behind twice to earn a point, with penalty corner goals from Phil Roper and Rupert Shipperley. South Africa went into the lead through Hobson and thought they had won it late in the fourth quarter with a goal from Bradley Sherwood.

GB had enjoyed the bulk of possession in the first quarter, creating a number of chances. Against the run of play South Africa forced a penalty corner on 11 minutes, the initial drag flick was saved by Ollie Payne in goal, and a follow up shot from the rebound. He could do nothing when the ball was squared across goal and pushed home at close range by Andrew Hobson to make it 1-0 to South Africa.

GB pressed for an equaliser creating multiple circle entries but had to wait until the third quarter to draw level. On 32 minutes, a turn and shot from Sam Ward broke to Shipperley who coming in on the left put it on a SA defender’s foot. Furlong’s low drag flick from the penalty corner was saved by the goalkeeper, but the rebound was pounced on by Phil Roper who pushed home from just past the penalty spot.

Despite further chances for GB the score remained tied going into the fourth quarter.

An increasingly bad tempered game, saw GB create further chances as a Phil Roper strike from a penalty corner break down was saved by the keeper and a diving Liam Sanford just failed to connect to one of Sam Ward’s penalty corner drag flicks.

As in the first quarter against the run of play, South Africa created and converted a half chance to again take the lead. On 53 minutes a hopeful ball fired to the top of the GB circle broke to Sherwood who turned the defender and left with a one on one against Ollie Payne, flicked the ball past him into the left-hand side of goal. 2-1 to South Africa.

Great Britain had to gamble and took Payne off with three minutes left, giving them an extra outfield player. The numerical advantage paid off with GB forcing a penalty corner with two minutes to play. On the third attempt after drags by Furlong and Ward, another Ward low drag flick was met perfectly by Rupert Shipperley, who from the left hand side of the goal deflected it up over the keeper to equalise.  Final score 2-2.

GB men’s next match is on Tuesday against the Netherlands at 11.45am UK time.

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