Latest news with #JoelCornelli
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.
Free Malaysia Today
07-07-2025
- Sport
- Free Malaysia Today
Nurul Azurin, Malaysia's queen of stops
Malaysia may bend, but with Nurul Azurin, they would never break. (Nurul Azurin Instagram pic) PETALING JAYA : If you caught the live-streamed matches of Malaysia's women's Asian Cup 2026 qualifying campaign, you witnessed something special. It was football with heart, moments that made you lean in, cheer out loud, and believe. From gritty tackles to flashes of brilliance, the Malayan Tigress delivered football powered by unity, determination, and a hunger to prove themselves on the Asian stage. While goalkeeper Nurul Azurin Mazlan was the undisputed star between the posts, the Malayan Tigress as a whole rose to the occasion, delivering one of their strongest international performances in recent memory. Those who missed the action didn't just miss thrilling saves. They missed a team, coached by Brazilian Joel Cornelli, that fought with spirit, defended with steel, and played with growing confidence on the continental stage. Some of the national team players celebrating after beating Palestine during the Asian Cup qualifying Group H opener in Tajikistan. (FAM pic) At the heart of it all, Nurul Azurin stood between victory and despair like a lighthouse guiding ships through a storm. The 25-year-old was the anchor of the squad, her gloved hands turning away goals and igniting belief in Malaysia's campaign in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. Though the Tigress finished second in Group H, just shy of qualification for the finals in Australia, their journey was somewhat framed by the brilliance of Nurul Azurin. With cat-like reflexes and nerves of steel, she turned match-defining moments into Malaysian memories. From the opening whistle against Palestine on June 29, Nurul Azurin commanded her penalty area with the poise of a seasoned general. Malaysia, ranked 102nd in the world, may have been favourites on paper against 134th-ranked Palestine, but pressure has a way of ignoring numbers. Nurul Azurin in action against a ruthless North Korea on Saturday. (AFC pic) When a 25th-minute penalty threatened to turn the tide, Dima Alrumhi's shot arrowed toward the bottom corner. But there was Nurul Azurin, springing to her right, swatting the ball away in a moment of sheer defiance. The rebound ballooned high, and in a heartbeat, Nurul Azurin was back on her feet, both shield and sword. Later, when Henrietta Justine rose in stoppage time to nod home the winning goal, it was Nurul Azurin's clean sheet that laid the foundation for Malaysia's 1-0 triumph. Her next test came against hosts Tajikistan, a side that unleashed wave after wave of high crosses and midfield surges. After Nur Fazira Sani's 16th-minute thunderbolt struck the post, the message was clear: this would be a hard-fought battle. But Nurul Azurin stood tall. She cut out dangerous crosses, rushed out to smother through balls, and flung herself full stretch to parry close-range efforts, each move a masterclass in anticipation and bravery. With the game goalless deep into stoppage time, Farahiyah Ridzuan's clinical strike looked like a late twist in a gritty tale. But Tajikistan never found their reply because Nurul Azurin's dominance in the box had already broken their rhythm and belief. Malaysia's 1-0 win kept their perfect record intact, and once again, their 'queen of stops' was the difference. On Saturday, the true test of courage came against North Korea, the world's ninth-ranked team and three-time Asian champions. In a group where the North Koreans had scored 20 goals in just two games, the 6-0 scoreline against Malaysia barely reflected the heroic resistance of Nurul Azurin. Time and again, she produced bold interceptions and sprawling saves. Without her, the margin could have been higher. Each deflection, each punch, each dive was a message: Malaysia may bend, but with Nurul Azurin, they would never break. Her resilience is no coincidence. Since January, Nurul Azurin has been making her mark in Europe, winning the Albanian women's super league with KFF Vllaznia. Malayan Tigress goalkeeper Nurul Azurin, an embodiment of resilience. (FAM pic) In the 2024/25 season, she helped secure the club's 12th league title and qualification for the 2025/26 UEFA women's Champions League qualifiers. In an interview, she described her experience as a baptism by fire, saying that the tempo, aggression, and tactical demands revealed how far the team had come, and how much further they still had to go. Before Albania, Nurul Azurin sharpened her craft with India's Misaka United and Kosovo's KFF Presingu. These stints overseas have broadened her footballing intelligence and emboldened her resolve. Yet her international journey was built on local success. She first made waves winning the 2019 Tun Sharifah Rodziah Cup with Melaka United. Then came personal accolades: Best goalkeeper in India's Karnataka Women's League (2021/22) and at the 2023 Saudi Arabian Football Federation Women's invitational. Each achievement became a stepping stone, a slab in the path that led her to this moment, where a nation's defence rests on her shoulders. Nurul Azurin is more than a goalkeeper. She is the embodiment of resilience, the architect of hope, and Malaysia's undisputed 'queen of stops.'
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.
