The men's hockey team of South Africa opened its Olympic hockey tournament, coming from a goal down to register a surprise 2-1 win over Argentina in group b on Sunday.

South Africa played a fiery second half that unsettled Argentina and two quick goals in the opening minutes from Greg Nicol and a superb performance from goalkeeper David Staniforth were eventually good enough to give them the victory.

Argentina edged a lacklustre first half and went ahead in the 10th minute thanks to a goal in open play from Tomas MacCormik.

But the second half saw a changed South Africa and short corner expert Nicol grabbed the equaliser in the 38th minute with a low direct hit from his side's first penalty opportunity.

Then, just three minutes later, Nicol connected again, this time driving up the right side of the pitch on the counter attack, outrunning an Argentina defender and striking it home from the top right of the circle.

South Africa still needed an excellent performance from goalkeeper Staniforth however. He was the star for South Africa late in the game, saving multiple shots on goal and penalty corner attempts from Argentina, who desperately fought through the last seconds of the match in an effort to get a draw and a point.

South Africa, ranked 13th in the world frustrated Argentina with gutsy defending and a dangerous counter attacking game that always made them a goal threat.

Argentina, ranked 6th in the world, paid the price for missed scoring opportunities including eight unsuccessful penalty corners.In addition, its conversion rate from open play, one from 11 chances, told its own story.

South Africa's next pool b action will be against India while Argentina takes on Australia on Tuesday.

Source: Xinhua