Clinical South Africa edge Canada to seal series triumph

Another tight Test encounter closed out the series as South Africa and Canada once again showed a deep understanding of each other’s game. Fine margins defined the contest, but this time South Africa found the decisive moment, claiming a 1–0 victory to seal a 3–0 series win.

South Africa looked most dangerous when Edith Molikoe was pulling the strings in midfield; she helped drive an early attacking spell that earned the hosts the first penalty corner of the match. The opportunity went begging as execution let them down.

Ntsopa Mokoena was lively early, finding good pockets of space, while another South African penalty corner was well saved by Marcia Laplante. Mokoena later forced a save with a sharp reverse-stick effort as South Africa edged the opening exchanges, leaving the score 0–0 at the end of the first quarter.

Canada enjoyed a period of possession early in the second quarter but, as had been the theme of the series, struggled to turn control into clear chances. Their best opportunity of the match was snuffed out brilliantly by Molikoe, before Mokoena produced a breathtaking run that lifted the crowd and created a chance she was unable to convert.

A South African deflection then drifted just wide, while Canada earned a penalty corner of their own, only to find the foot of a teammate. The sides headed into halftime deadlocked at 0–0.

The breakthrough finally came in the third quarter. Mokoena slipped a pass through to Laiken Brisset, who did well under pressure to square the ball across the circle. Cerian Fourie was perfectly placed to collect and fire through the goalkeeper into the bottom-left corner, giving South Africa a deserved 1–0 lead.

South Africa thought they had doubled their advantage shortly afterwards, but the goal was correctly ruled out for dangerous play. Canada pushed hard in the closing stages, stretching the South African defence, but the hosts held firm to close out the match and the series.

TEST SERIES RESULTS

Test 1: South Africa 1–0 Canada
Test 2: Draw
Test 3: South Africa 2–0 Canada
Test 4: Draw
Test 5: South Africa 1–0 Canada