India vs South Africa Hockey World Cup 2023 Highlights: India beat South Africa 5-2, finish joint 9th

India's campaign in the Men's Hockey World Cup ended with a second consecutive win in the placement playoffs at the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium in Rourkela on Saturday. Fans in Odisha once again took every available seat in the 20,000-capacity stadium to stand with the home team in what has been an otherwise sorry campaign for India, who beat South Africa 5-2 to end in joint-9th position along with Argentina.

Team India ends campaign with a big win

Back-to-back player of the match for Abhishek

India finish 9th

Player of the Match: India's Abhishek

A big win for India

It's all over! India crush South Africa 5-2 to finish joint 9th

A goal-fest in Rourkela. India signed off from the World Cup with a commanding 5-2 win over South Africa in a classification match. With the victory, India finished joint ninth in the overall standings along with Argentina. Four goals were scored in the final quarter of the contest, two each for India and South Africa. But the 3-0 advantage after the third quarter meant the hosts came out triumphant in the game.

60' - GOAL!!! Cassiem Mustaphaa scores South Africa's second goal. It's IND 5-2 SA

60' - India are taking a referral against the penalty stroke. India lost the referral and it's a penalty stroke for South Africa.

59' - GOAL!!! Sukhjeet Singh scores to make it 5-1 for India.

56' - SAVE! South Africa keeper makes a good save to deny a powerful shot from Jarmanpreet Singh

53' - Varun drag-flicks it wide of the South Africa goal from the PC.

53' - Another PC for India

51' - YELLOW CARD! India's Sukhjeet Singh gets a five-minute suspension. India are a man down now.

50' - SAVE! South Africa keeper makes a good save to deny Harmanpreet Singh from the PC.

50' - PC for India

49' - GOAL!!! Samkelo Mvimbi scores a goal for South Africa. It's 1-4 vs India.

49' - GOAL!!! Akashdeep Singh scores to make it 4-0 for India

48' - South Africa are taking a referral. A successful referral and it's a free out for SA

Fourth and final quarter gets underway...

End of Q3: India lead South Africa 3-0 at the end of third quarter

45' - GOAL!!! Samsher Singh scores a goal to make it 3-0 for India

42' - India still lead the possession stats 59%-41% vs South Africa

40' - Green Card for India's Nilakanta Sharma, two minutes suspension.

39' - Lalit falls down inside the South Africa circle, but the ref gives the decision in favour of the Proteas.

38' - Amit Rohidas' five-minute suspension is over. India are back to full strength.

37' - South Africa are holding the ball but are finding it tough to make a move into the India circle.

34' - The big question now is, can South Africa take the advantage of one man superiority.

33' - No goal again for South Africa as they fail to convert the PC.

33' - Successful referral for South Africa. PC for South Africa and A YELLOW CARD for Amit Rohidas. India are now one-man down for the next five minutes.

33' - South Africa are taking a referral for a foul inside the India circle

32' - Second PC for South Africa in quick time. Again India keeper Pathak kicks the ball away to safety. No goal.

32' - Good save from India keeper. Long corner for South Africa.

32' - First penalty corner for South Africa

Welcome Back! The third quarter gets underway in Rourkela...

Advantage India at break

End of Q2: India lead South Africa 2-0 at the halftime break

No goals in the second quarter of the match. India maintained the two-goal advantage at the halftime break against South Africa in Rourkela. Two first quarter goals is the difference between the sides so far. Abhishek scored a field goal in the fifth minute to give the hosts an early lead, before skipper Harmanpreet Singh converted a PC in the 12th minute to double the lead. India earned three more penalty corners in the second quarter but failed to convert any of them. South Africa are yet to earn a PC in the match.

29' - India have so far made 15 circle penetrations in comparison to South Africa's 8.

28' - Jarmanpreet Singh shoots it wide of the South Africa goal from a close range. CHANCE!

26' - Harmanpreet Singh hits it straight to the South Africa keeper with his drag flick. No goal.

26' - India get another penalty corner

24' - Varun drag flicks it high over the South African crossbar

24' - Successful referral from India. It's a penalty corner for India.

24' - India taking a referral for a push inside the South Africa circle

23' - Good defending from South Africa to deny the powerful drag flick from Varun.

23' - PC for India

20' - India lead the possession stats 59% to 41% so far. Both teams have made six circle penetrations in the game so far.

19' - More attacks from South Africa. This time from the left flank. Again the SA player hit the side netting from a tight angle.

17' - MISSED! South Africa's Horne hits the side of the India goal from a tight angle. Good attack but the finishing was a bit wide.

Q2 gets underway..It's India 2-0 South Africa