Hockey World Cup 2023: Spain book quarters berth after edging out Malaysia via shoot-out

Spain entered the quarterfinals of the FIH Odisha Men’s Hockey World Cup 2023 after edging out Malaysia 4-3 via penalty shoot-out in a high-intensity crossover match at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar on Sunday.

Spain will lock horns with formidable Australia in the quarterfinals on January 24.

The match ended 2-2 in the regulation time. In the ensuing penalty, shoot-out Spain scraped past Malaysia 4-3. While, Miralles Marc, Gispert Xavier, Bonastre Jordi and Miralles Marc sounded the board for Spain, Shahmie Irfan Suhaimi, Saari Faizal and Ashari Firhan struck for Malaysia in the all-important shoot-out.

The Spanish team, which dominated most part of the 70 minutes of the regulation time, were finally able to get over a gritty Malaysian outfit in the penalty shoot-out. 

The match ended 2-2 in regulation time with Malaysians scoring in the 34th and 48th minutes. Saari Faizal and Silverius Shello scored a field goal each. On the other hand, Spain hit the back of the goalpost twice in two minutes with goals from Marc Miralles and Xavier Gispert in the 40th and 41st minutes. 

Spain put immense pressure on the opposition and earned as many as eight penalty corners in the match. However, they failed to convert any of those chances. One penalty stroke was awarded to them and Miralles Marc converted it successfully.

On the other hand, Malaysia could manage only one penalty corner in the entire game, but failed to capitalize on it.