On Sunday night, Japan beat South Africa 2-1 at the tournament in Spain. Oikawa Shihori opened the scoring in the 6th minute with a goal from a penalty corner, while the captain Quanita Bobbs levelled matters five minutes later with a field goal.

Toriyama Mai scored the winner for Japan with five minutes left on the clock.

Bobbs said she felt they could have gotten a positive result from the game.

"I thought that we started off a bit slow," said the experienced Bobbs.

"Eventually we got into the match and we equalised with a great goal in the circle.

"To be honest, I think it was a little scrappy, with too many double-turnovers and a simple lack of concentration in defence that led to their second goal.

"So, it's a bit unfortunate, I felt that we could have gotten the win or at least a draw."

On Monday at 18:30 South Africa will face Chile in their second match of the Nations Cup. The last time these two teams met, Chile shocked South Africa with a 1-0 win at the Wagener Stadium in Amstelveen at the FIH World Cup earlier in the year.

In yesterday's other results, Korea and Italy drew 1-1, Spain beat Ireland 2-0 and India beat Chile 3-1.

Morgan Piek/OFM Sport