PETALING JAYA: The national hockey team’s World Cup campaign got off to a rough start after they lost 5-1 to defending champions Germany in Wavre, Belgium, on Saturday (Aug 15).
The Speedy Tigers were shaken at the start of the match as Germany wasted no time asserting their dominance, scoring three goals in the opening 10 minutes through Jakob Brilla, Christopher Ruhr, and Justus Weigand.
Malaysia managed to pull one back and get themselves on the scoreboard in the 40th minute after Azrai Aizad Abu Kamal converted a penalty corner to give his side a glimmer of hope.
But the consolation goal did not stop Germany from adding more to their goal tally after Justus Warweg and Paul-Philipp Kaufmann extended their lead in the 45th and 53rd minutes respectively.
Malaysia will have plenty to look back on as they prepare to face France next on Monday (Aug 17), before their final Group B match against hosts Belgium on Wednesday (Aug 19).
