Mustapha's magic wand sinks Argentina

A dramatic last-minute strike by Mustapha Cassiem gave South Africa a 6-5 win over Argentina at the FIH Indoor Hockey World Cup on Thursday. 

That win means South Africa qualified for the competition's semi-finals in the men's and women's divisions after the women's team also came away with a 6-3 win over New Zealand. 

In the men's fixture, the host nation was forced to fend off repeated comebacks as the flair and passion of Argentina kept them in the game until Cassiem pounced in the dying seconds.

Mustapha was in it from the outset when he raced downfield inside the first minute and set up his brother Dayaan for a brilliant field goal. The South African star followed that up with a goal of his own to make it 2-0, but from then, it was a case of punch and counterpunch.

The Blitzstoks built a 5-3 lead in the third quarter, one of those being a brilliant reverse flick by Dayaan, but no indoor hockey game is ever completely safe, and Argentina made it 5-5 with four minutes remaining

However, the South African players stayed patient, jumped on a mistake by Argentina, and Mustapha did the rest.

Skipper Jethro Eustice was ecstatic following the win.

"I think we know that we have the ability to go on the counter, wait for a mistake and then move the ball quickly to Mustapha or Dayaan in the circle. If we can do that, we know we have a goal-scoring opportunity," Eustice said.

“Of course, you must contend with the defence, but if you keep creating scoring opportunities, some of them must come off. And to score like that with less than a minute to go was just incredible.”

Eustice acknowledged Cassiem's influence for South Africa throughout the week.

"We have to compliment on his goal-scoring," he said. 

"He is a special player, and we