ZIMBABWE 6 SOUTH AFRICA 8

South Africa may have shot to a 3-0 lead, but it had narrowed to 4-2 by the first break. South Africa fumbled a penalty attempt to start the second quarter, elevated to 5-2 before Zimbabwe came back with two long shots for a 5-4 deficit. South Africa scored from a six-metre foul just ahead of the halftime buzzer, which sounds more like a tweeter.

Dayna Bond scored her third goal to start the third quarter and bring the margin to one. Four minutes later she levelled with a rifle shot. Her next attempt hit the bar, South Africa countered and Kendell de Beer gave South Africa the 7-6 advantage with five seconds to spare.

South Africa missed a penalty attempt; Zimbabwe wasted a timeout by losing the ball on the play; South Africa called a timeout at 0:54, gained an exclusion and converted for 8-6, which proved enough for victory.

Match Difference Makers

Zimbabwe’s Bond, who scored nine goals against Greece on Friday, topped the scoring with four while four South Africans netted twice.

The Decider

Scoring on counter at the end of the third period.

Stats Critical

The stats do not look good for South Africa, blowing both penalty attempts and converting only two from nine on extra-man attack. Zimbabwe was more clinical with two from four.

What Awaits The Teams?

South Africa faces Greece and Zimbabwe the Czech Republic on Sunday.

CZECH REPUBLIC 6 GREECE 11

Greece made it two from two with a comfortable win over the Czech Republic. Greece went to 3-1 and 5-1 before the Czechs scored off a drive a second from the quarter-time buzzer. It was a 4-3 second quarter to Greece, moving from 7-5 to 9-5 thanks to a penalty goal and a bomb from halfway.

The third period was the first of the tournament, and probably the only time, that no goals were scored. Greece scored the first two goals, the second from a lob; the Czech Republic responded with a centre-forward backhand from Barbora Kilianova. Greece had a chance to stretch the margin to 12-6 but missed the penalty attempt.

Match Difference Makers

Evdokia Tsimara, Dionysia Kouretas and Nefeli Chaldaiou all scored three each for Greece while Czech Republic’s double scorer was Karolina Hlavata.

The Decider

Leading at 9-5 by halftime and playing a scoreless third quarter.

Stats Critical

Greece converted three from nine to the Czech tally of one from seven on an extra-man attack. Both teams scored one from two at the penalty line.

What Awaits The Teams?

Top-of-the-table Greece plays South Africa and the Czech Republic fronts Zimbabwe on Sunday.

Progress Points

Greece 6, Czech Republic 3, South Africa 3, Zimbabwe 0.