Ireland win over SA sets up showdown with Spain

Sam Hyland celebrates Ireland’s fourth goal [Getty Images] Ireland battled to a 4-1 victory over South Africa in their World Cup clash in Wavre on Tuesday to leave them needing a draw against Spain in Thursday's final Pool C game to advance to the second phase of the tournament. After going behind to a spectacular goal from Kenton Melville in the third quarter, Ben Walker equalised and a pair of Lee Cole penalty corner goals in the final 15 minutes set Ireland on the road to a hard-fought win. However, it was Sam Hyland’s effort with 11 seconds remaining that could prove crucial. That goal tied the Spanish on points and goal difference, but his strike was Ireland‘s fifth of the tournament to Spain’s three, edging the Irish ahead in the tie-breaking scenarios. This was not as straightforward a game for Mark Tumilty's side as the scoreline may suggest. Both sides had lost their opening games, Ireland beaten 3-1 by Australia and South Africa losing by the same scoreline to Spain, so this was a must-win. The African champions took the game to Ireland but in goalkeeper Jamie Carr, the Irish have one of the best in world hockey and he made a string of significant saves throughout the game. He could do nothing about Melville's opening goal which somehow saw the South African forward contort his body and stick into a position to be able to lift the ball over Carr from close range. At this stage, midway through the third quarter, Ireland were struggling but once they found a higher tempo to their game they equalised when Walker scored. The pivotal moment of the game came in the opening stages of the final 15 minutes. Carr was initially penalised for clattering into a South African forward and the umpire awarded a penalty stroke. Carr referred it to the video umpire and replays clearly saw that the Irish goalkeeper had made the save before contact with Carlon Mentoor took place. The decision was reversed and within seconds Ireland had been awarded a penalty corner at the other end for a South African player being adjudged to deliberately have played the ball over the goal line. On another day that decision is given as a deflection but Cole was not going to pass up the opportunity to fire Ireland in front. He repeated the trick to make it 3-1 with four minutes remaining but with every goal counting Ireland played to the last 11 seconds and were rewarded when Hyland popped up at the back post to score. Even then as time ran out the South Africans forced Carr into one more save to preserve the victory. Lee Cole scores one of his two goals [Getty Images] Goalkeeper Carr 'kept us in it' “They did bring it to us, very quick team, very physical, and they were there from the first whistle and they definitely let you know about it as well, so it's probably as much a verbal game. Managing that in your own mind and being calm is so important,” explained Irish captain Kyle Marshall after the game. “Every goal counts, especially with the ceilings of the pools, so even to keep out the corner at the end was massive for us. Something to take forward into our next game.” Marshall also heaped praise on Carr for keeping Ireland in the game on occasions. “He just definitely kept us on the right side of the scoreboard. When we weren't having much joy in the first half, he definitely kept us in it. “Then obviously they got their goal, but we were never, never out of reach and it's down to Jamie just making it really hard to score past him.” While Ireland have their destiny in their own hands and can afford a draw with Spain, they know it will be no easy task. “We sat down and had an honest conversation at the start of the tournament and said we wanted to go into the Spain game having something to play for, and that is very much the case. So we're looking forward to that opportunity,” added Marshall. “They’re a side we know pretty well, so looking forward to what should be an exciting game.”