KUALA LUMPUR, May 5 — The national men’s hockey squad suffered their second straight defeat after losing 0-1 to a Netherlands Selection which comprised senior, Under-21 and development players in a warm-up match in Netherlands yesterday.

Striker Bjorn Kellerman scored the only goal of the match through a field goal in the 18th minute, said national hockey coach Tai Beng Hai via e-mail today.

He said all 20 players were given an equal chance to showcase their ability during the tour, except Mohd Shahrun Nabil Abdullah and Meor Muhammad Azuan Hassan who were down with illness and injury.

For the record, Malaysia went down 1-2 to the same team in the first match on Saturday.

The friendly/training stint was part of Beng Hai’s preparations for the Third Round of the Hockey World League from June 20 to July 5 in Antwerp, Belgium.

Malaysia face a tough battle in the tournament which serves as the qualifying round for the 2016 Olympic Games after being drawn against hosts Belgium, Ireland, China and Great Britain in Pool B. — Bernama