Brad Sherwood, Team South Africa’s hockey star, expressed disappointment in the team’s draw versus Great Britain despite their outstanding performance.
On Sunday night at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Team GB equalized with 90 seconds remaining to prevent South Africa from claiming glory. The 2-2 draw was hard fought, but the South Africans will feel they squandered this opportunity.
Andrew Hobson scored following a rebound from a penalty corner, giving the South Africans a 1-0 lead that they maintained until halftime.
Great Britain equalised early in the second half. SA goal-minder. Gowan Jones saved the original penalty corner attempt before Phil Roper responded quickly and blasted the ball in.
Great Britain won a penalty corner in the first minute of the fourth quarter, but Jones produced another outstanding save. South Africa then responded superbly. Sherwood took the ball and, with a superb touch, created space before firing into the bottom corner to give South Africa the lead again with seven minutes left.
Keenan Horne hit a beautiful reverse stick shot that was aiming for the top corner, but it was brilliantly stopped by Ollie Payne in the Team GB net.
South Africa had to defend their lines late in the game as Great Britain stormed forward hoping for the equalizer. With two minutes on the clock, Team GB won a penalty corner, which was re-awarded, adding to the suspense, before equalizing with 90 seconds remaining.
“I am obviously chuffed to be an Olympic goal scorer, but I’m really disappointed that we weren’t able to get the result,” said Sherwood.
“We put in a tremendous effort, and we frustrated them. We are South African; we will be back for the next game, of course!”