Ireland 5 Malaysia 0
Róisín Upton rounded off the scoring for Ireland. Photo: Sportsfile
The Ireland Women’s team got their World Cup qualifiers off to a flying start in Santiago with a 5-0 win over Malaysia.
Ireland took control early on, camping themselves in the Malaysian half but couldn’t break the deadlock in the opening quarter.
The breakthrough eventually came thanks to Katie Mullan who got the deftest of touches on a Hannah McLoughlin delivery.
Caoimhe Perdue got Ireland’s second from a penalty corner with six minutes remaining in the first half as her slap at goal took a favourable deflection off a Malaysian stick on its way through to see it sneak in at the near post.
Ireland dominated the second half, extending their lead early on. Sarah McAuley did superbly to take down an aerial from Róisín Upton, fight her way into the circle and fire into the side netting on her reverse stick.
The fourth came via Michelle Carey three minutes later and Upton added Ireland’s fifth.
There’s a double-header of action on Tuesday as the men’s team take on Korea at 2.15 (Irish time) before the women’s team face Japan at 6.45.