Latest news with #Cornelli
The Star
08-07-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Tigress roar with pride despite Asian Cup exit
Better showing: The Malayan Tigress lost 6-0 to North Korea in the Asian Cup qualifiers in Tajikistan. — FAM PETALING JAYA: The national women's football team can hold their heads high despite falling short of a ticket to the 2026 Asian Cup. The Malayan Tigress, ranked No. 102 in the world, were denied the slot after falling 0-6 to world No. 9 North Korea on Saturday in their final Group H match in Tajikistan. Head coach Joel Cornelli knew their opponents would be formidable, after all the North Koreans scored 10 goals in both their group stage matches against Palestine and Tajikistan. Malaysia meanwhile had won their first two group stage matches with 1-0 wins against Palestine and hosts Tajikistan. Malaysia finished second in the group, with only group winners North Korea advancing to the Asian Cup next year. Despite the loss, the Brazilian coach had only praise for his team in their first international outing. 'I'm very proud of my team. In the first two matches, we played against teams at our level,' he said. 'North Korea were at a different level. They had better speed, more experience and were skilful. More than that, they were ready,' he said. Cornelli, who joined the women's team in May, said the squad are showing great promise, and with time, would be able to reach greater heights. 'The team have been training for only two months before we competed. And it's my first tournament with them,' he said. 'I'm proud of what we have achieved here, and I'm sure that with time and hard work, we can improve and achieve better result in the next competition,' he said. Malaysia's ranking are expected to break into the top 100 after their campaign in Tajikistan, a step in the right direction towards the highest ever of world No. 63 in 2003.
New Straits Times
06-07-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
World No. 9 North Korea too strong as Tigresses exit with pride
KUALA LUMPUR: Malayan Tigresses coach Joel Cornelli remains proud of his players despite missing out on qualification for the Women's Asian Cup. World No. 102 Malaysia were outclassed 6-0 by world No. 9 North Korea in their final Group H qualifier on Saturday in Dushanbe, finishing second with two wins and one defeat. "I am very proud of my team because in the first two games, we played against teams on our level, and we won," said Cornelli. "Then we played North Korea, a team with more experience, with players who have seen more of the game, so naturally, they were more prepared." Despite their exit, the Malaysian women showed grit and discipline throughout the qualifiers, grinding out 1-0 wins over both Palestine and hosts Tajikistan before running into a ruthless North Korean outfit. "It's my first tournament with Malaysia, and I'm very proud of what we've achieved," added the Brazilian. "With more time, we can improve. I believe we'll perform even better in future competitions." North Korea, who had hammered both Palestine and Tajikistan 10-0, showed their class again against Malaysia. The Koreans struck through Kim Hye Yong (40th minute), Myong Yu Jong (46th), Kim Kyong Yong (52nd, 55th, 78th) and Ri Hye Gyong (90th). They topped the group with a perfect record - nine points, 26 goals scored, none conceded - to book their spot in next year's finals in Australia. Malaysia, meanwhile, can hold their heads high. While the scoreline may appear one-sided, their relative resistance against a dominant force like North Korea was commendable. For the record, Malaysia last qualified for the Women's Asian Cup Finals in 2001, when the tournament was held in Taiwan.
Barnama
16-06-2025
- Sport
- Barnama
Malayan Tigress Retain Most Players For 2026 Women's Asian Cup Qualifiers
KUALA LUMPUR, June 16 (Bernama) -- National head coach Joel Cornelli has retained more than 90 per cent of his existing players to face the 2026 Women's Asian Cup Qualifiers in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, scheduled to take place from June 29 to July 5. The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) announced today in a statement that Cornelli has retained 21 of the 23 players in the Malayan Tigress squad that participated in the Tri-Nations tournament in Thimphu, Bhutan, which concluded earlier this month. Among the players retained by the Brazilian coach are prolific striker Intan Sarah Anisah Zulgafli, experienced defender Steffi Sarge Kaur, and leading goalkeeper Nurul Azurin Mazlan. bootstrap slideshow 'The new players selected are Malayan Tigress Under-19 (U-19) goalkeeper Daliea Eliesa and striker Henrietta Justine. 'The national women's football squad will first play two Tier 1 international matches against the UAE (United Arab Emirates) on June 18 and 22 in Dubai before flying to Tajikistan to face the 2026 Women's Asian Cup Qualification campaign,' the statement said. In the 2026 Women's Asian Cup Qualification campaign, Malaysia has been drawn in Group H to start the competition against Palestine on June 29, followed by Tajikistan (July 3) and North Korea on July 5 with all matches scheduled to be held at the Central Stadium, Dushanbe. The eight group winners will qualify for the final round along with Australia, China, South Korea and Japan in Australia in March 2026. The last time Malaysia qualified for the Women's Asian Cup was in 1995, when they were the hosts. The national team's best achievement in the quadrennial tournament was third place in the 1983 edition in Thailand.
The Sun
16-06-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Malayan Tigress retain most players for 2026 women's Asian Cup Qualifiers
NATIONAL head coach Joel Cornelli has retained more than 90 per cent of his existing players to face the 2026 Women's Asian Cup Qualifiers in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, scheduled to take place from June 29 to July 5. The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) announced today in a statement that Cornelli has retained 21 of the 23 players in the Malayan Tigress squad that participated in the Tri-Nations tournament in Thimphu, Bhutan, which concluded earlier this month. Among the players retained by the Brazilian coach are prolific striker Intan Sarah Anisah Zulgafli, experienced defender Steffi Sarge Kaur, and leading goalkeeper Nurul Azurin Mazlan. 'The new players selected are Malayan Tigress Under-19 (U-19) goalkeeper Daliea Eliesa and striker Henrietta Justine. 'The national women's football squad will first play two Tier 1 international matches against the UAE (United Arab Emirates) on June 18 and 22 in Dubai before flying to Tajikistan to face the 2026 Women's Asian Cup Qualification campaign,' the statement said. In the 2026 Women's Asian Cup Qualification campaign, Malaysia has been drawn in Group H to start the competition against Palestine on June 29, followed by Tajikistan (July 3) and North Korea on July 5 with all matches scheduled to be held at the Central Stadium, Dushanbe. The eight group winners will qualify for the final round along with Australia, China, South Korea and Japan in Australia in March 2026. The last time Malaysia qualified for the Women's Asian Cup was in 1995, when they were the hosts. The national team's best achievement in the quadrennial tournament was third place in the 1983 edition in Thailand.
Barnama
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Barnama
Cornelli Eyes Friendlies As Key Prep For Malayan Tigress To Asian Cup Qualifiers
PETALING JAYA, May 17 (Bernama) -- New Malayan Tigress head coach Joel Cornelli has described the two upcoming international football friendlies against Bhutan and Hong Kong, and two matches against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as ideal preparations for the team ahead of his first major task at the 2026 Women's Asian Cup qualifiers in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. Cornelli said the upcoming fixtures will be crucial for him to assess the capabilities of his squad and implement his footballing philosophy before heading to Tajikistan in June. 'This will be a very important week of training to get to know the players and to start implementing my philosophy and game model with the team. bootstrap slideshow 'Bhutan and Hong Kong are not in our qualifying group, but it is very important to see the level of our team at this moment because this is the only available match window," he told reporters at the opening ceremony of the Women's League Qualifying Round at the PKNS Field here today. The national team are set to take part in the Tier 1 Tri-Nation International Series in Thimphu, Bhutan, facing Bhutan (May 31) and Hong Kong ( June 4), before travelling to the UAE for two more warm-up matches on June 20 and 22. Cornelli said the friendlies would allow him to address weaknesses in the squad, particularly in attacking and finishing. 'I've only seen the girls in video footage matches against Indonesia, Cambodia in August, and Saudi Arabia, and we didn't score many goals. 'Of course, we need to work on that during these friendly matches so I can identify the best positions for the players and better understand where our weaknesses lie,' he said. For the AFC Women's Asian Cup Qualifiers, Malaysia have been placed in a challenging Group H, alongside three-time champions North Korea.
