JAKARTA: Malaysia gave their chance of qualification for the semi-finals a big boost when they won their fixture against Chinese Taipei 11-0 at the GBK Hockey Stadium. Malaysia scored five goals via penalty corner ace Nuraini Rashid, who set the path for the big win. This would improve Malaysia’s chances to qualify for the semi-finals as well. A healthy goal lead puts Malaysia’s goal difference as plus 19, while Japan is on plus 17 and China on plus 9.
Despite the big win, it did not put a smile on the face of Malaysian coach K. Dharmaraj.
“We missed too many chances and this might come back to haunt us should it come to goal difference to decide the semi-finalists.”
The efforts that the Malaysian Women’s team seemed to be putting in training could be seen being translated onto the field. After having drawn with China, the Malaysian girls knew that a place in the semis could well be decided by goal difference.
Malaysia hit the opener in the 4th minute through a penalty corner converted by Nuraini Rashid. Noor Hasliza Mohd Ali made it 2-0 in the 10th minute. Goals by Zafirah Aziz in the 21st minute and Norazlin Sumantri in the 25th minute gave Malaysia a 4-0 lead.
Nuraini scored Malaysia’s fifth in the 26th minute, also off a penalty corner. Two minutes into the second half, Nuramirah Zulkifli scored to give Malaysia their 6th. She went on to score two more in the 40th and 44th minutes to give Malaysia an 8-0 lead. Hanis Nadia Onn, who scored two goals in the draw against China, netted Malaysia’s ninth in the 51st minute.
Nur Zafirah Aziz scored in the 52nd minute and Nuraini soon after converted a penalty stroke in the 56th minute for an 11-0 scoreline.
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