WHWL: Malaysia lose 0-3 to Ireland in final

The Malaysian Tigresses again failed to overcome European favourites Ireland in the Women's Hockey World League (WHWL) Round Two after losing 0-3 in the final here tonight.

It was Malaysia's second defeat to the Irish in the tournament after losing 1-2 in the preliminary round in Group B on Monday at the same venue, the Tun Razak Hockey Stadium, here.

Both teams tried to create chances playing the ball up and down from the first blow, but the tournament's leading scorer Anna O'Flanagan put the Irish side in front in the seventh minute.

The Malaysian Tigresses then pushed hard to find the equaliser, but top flicker Nuraini Abdul Rashid failed to convert a penalty stroke two minutes later.

The Green Army squad doubled the score in the 10th minute through skipper Kathryn Mullan, who brilliantly fired the ball past Malaysian defenders from the penalty box line.

The world ranked 16th team 2-0 at the end of the second quarter after the hosts failed to convert two penalty corners.

Zoe Wilson striked another for the visitors in the 35th minute to claim victory.

Malaysia, ranked 21st in the world, marched into the final after edging another another European favourite and world number 15, Italy 2-1 in a penalty shootout after both teams were tied 2-2 in the regular time while Ireland overcame Wales 2-0.

Earlier, in the quarterfinals, Malaysia had defeated Thailand 3-0 on Thursday and thrashed Hong Kong 9-0 and Kazakhstan 13-1 in their two other Group B matches. -Bernama