Malseed boosts bid for Tokyo selection
ARDS striker Zara Malseed hit a sensational double as Ireland’s women drew 2-2 with Spain in the fourth game of the fivematch series in Murcia yesterday.
The 23-year-old’s heroics mean that Ireland need only to avoid defeat in tomorrow’s final game (10am) to win the series.
Malseed’s goalscoring exploits at club level — where she was averaging a goal a game — earned her a call-up to the national squad just under a year ago.
However, the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic meant that she had to wait for the trip to Spain to make her competitive debut.
And how she responded, not only scoring two spectacular goals but playing through the pain barrier to boot.
She fractured her thumb when in Murcia, meaning yesterday’s was only her second appearance in the green shirt after sitting out games one and three of the series.
Now, Malseed has done her chances of making the squad for the delayed Tokyo Olympics no harm at all with 20 outfield players in the current squad and 16 plus two reserves to travel to Japan.
Before that, in June, an 18-strong squad will travel to Amsterdam for the European Championship in what will be Ireland’s last competitive event before Tokyo.
Ireland will again be up against Spain in the Netherlands, along with their Dutch hosts and Scotland in the group stages, with the top six finishers overall to qualify for the 2023 World Cup.
Malseed’s initial target will be to make the final cut for the Euros and she may have further chances to impress head coach Sean Dancer if more games can be arranged in the interim after the series-ending game in Spain.
The Queen’s University student opened Ireland’s account in the first quarter yesterday when she scored with a brilliant firsttime deflection from a Hannah Mcloughlin pass.
Lara Pampin converted a penalty corner to put Spain back on level terms before the long break.
Malseed’s second goal was even better than her first, again collecting a Mcloughlin delivery before skilfully finding space and firing home an unstoppable shot.
Once again, Spain drew level, Gigi Oliva scoring from the penalty spot in the final quarter after a set-piece had been stopped by Shirley Mccay’s foot on the line.