This is the African champions’ ninth appearance at the event and their first-ever meeting with Austria at this level, adding an extra layer of anticipation to the start of the tournament.
South Africa settled down quickly when Leah du Plessis met a brilliant through ball and showed wonderful patience to round the keeper and calmly roll the ball into the back of the net.
The South African Olympians, Ntsopa Mokoena, Taheera Augousti and Paris-Gail Isaacs, were in complete control of the pace and looked dangerous throughout.
Mokoena then produced a moment of total composure in the second quarter when she doubled the lead after being given far too much space, choosing her spot and finishing with confidence.
Austria pulled one back just before half-time through their experienced captain Katharina Proksch to keep the match alive.
The second half demanded more from the South Africans: they collected two green cards and a yellow card, which meant that long periods had to be played with fewer numbers.
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Yet they found the next big moment when Du Plessis stepped up again with a brilliant penalty corner that rattled the backboard to extend the lead.
In the final quarter, South Africa completed the remaining time on the yellow card and almost immediately created another chance.
Augousti slipped a sublime ball through to Mokoena, whose first shot was brilliantly saved, but she reacted immediately to hammer the rebound home at the back.
It was a composed and impressive start for the young South Africans, who will now turn their attention to England in forty-eight hours as the pool begins to take shape.
South African Pool D Group Match Schedule (all matches 2pm CAT)
December 2: South Africa 4-1 Austria
December 4: South Africa vs England
December 6: South Africa vs. China
South Africa plays XI and bench
4 Germarie Spershott
5 Buckendorf dollars
August 7 happened
9 Anja Tromp
10 Ane Janse van Vuuren (C)
13 Paris-Gail Isaacs
17 Call me Mokoena
18 Teshawn De la Rey
19 Hannah Quinton
24 Reabetswe Phume
25 Richele Norval (GK)
Substitutes
2 Lea du Plessis
6 Jodie blisters
8 Emily Macquet
11 Enjoy Metu
14 Baylee Engelke
16 Nomsa Mzizi
26 Manisha Desai (GK)
Austria plays XI and bench
2 Josefine Riedl
8 Louisa Pelz
9 Elena Lendl (GK)
11 Katharina Bauer
12 Amelie Minar
14 Philippa Proksch
15 Katharina Proksch
23 Lisa Zeiler
28 Anja Haselsteiner
30 Marie Pelz
32 Anna Hackl
Substitutes
16 Anna Damm
17 Florentina Buchta
24 Pia Reisegger
26 Life Heindl
27 Jula Enzinger
29 Celina Kolbl
42 Sofie Draxler (GK)
The 2025 FIH Hockey Women’s Junior World Cup in Santiago, Chile, from December 1 to 13, 2025
Swimming pool A
The Netherlands
Japan
Chile
Malaysia
Swimming pool B
Argentina
Belgium
Zimbabwe
Wales
Swimming pool C
Germany
India
Ireland
Namibia
Swimming pool D
England
South Africa
China
Austria
Swimming pool E
Australia
Spain
Canada
Scotland
Swimming pool F
United States
Korea
New Zealand
Uruguay
Original copy: SA Hockey, edited by gsport
Main photo caption: Leah du Plessis (pictured) and Ntsopa Mokoena bagged a brace each as the young South African opened their FIH Hockey Women’s Junior World Cup 2025 campaign with a convincing win over Austria at the Centro Deportivo de Hockey Césped in Santiago, Chile, South America, on Tuesday, December 2, 2025. Photo: INHockey
Photo 2 Caption: Ntsopa Mokoena demonstrated her threat by hitting the board with two field goals in South Africa’s opening win in Santiago. File photo: INHockey
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