Mustapha Cassiem celebrates one of his three goals in South Africa's 6-5 victory against Belgium in the bronze medal playoff in the FIH Indoor Hockey World Cup in Poreč, Croatia on Sunday.
The South African indoor hockey men secured their first medal in history as they defeated Belgium 6-5 in the bronze playoff of the FIH Indoor Hockey World Cup in Poreč, Croatia on Sunday.
Belgium opened the scoring early via Phillipe Simar as, despite a few half chances, the South Africans were unable to find a goal in the opening quarter.
Early in the second quarter Belgium were awarded a penalty corner and Simar doubled the lead. South Africa were awarded a route back into the game with a penalty corner and Mustapha Cassiem fired it low past the foot of Romain Henet to halve the deficit to 2-1.
The Proteas found an equaliser when Mustapha Cassiem found the ball in the circle and turned to fire low and restore parity. Dayaan Cassiem joined the party and gave South Africa the halftime lead by firing into the roof from a tight angle on the reverse stick.
South Africa won a penalty corner in the second half that saw Mustapha Cassiem’s shot strike a defender on the line for a penalty stroke, with Hans Neethling on hand to fire home and double the lead to 4-2.
Belgium pulled one back through Max Langer from a penalty corner with four minutes remaining in the third quarter.
Mustapha Cassiem completed his hat-trick with a brilliant drag from the right in the opening minute of the final quarter when given space to make it 5-3, then Dayaan Cassiem fired low past Henet to stretch the lead.
Belgium's Gaethon Dykmans pulled one back from a penalty corner to make it 6-4 with three-and-a-half minutes remaining, then Max Langer scored a sensational goal to halve the deficit, but South Africa hung on for the medal.
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Updated: 28 February 2025 Friday
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