Ireland face decisive Japan clash after loss to Belgium in second Olympic qualifier

Ireland will face Japan in a crucial final pool match in Valencia after falling to a 4-2 defeat to group favourites Belgium in their second game of the men's Olympic hockey qualifiers.

Coming off the back of Sunday's 5-1 victory over Ukraine in the eastern Spanish city, Mark Tumilty's Irish team knew they would face their toughest task in the four-team pool on Monday night and so it proved.

Belgium were 2-0 to the good by the 25th minute thanks to goals from Felix Denayer and Alexander Hendrickx, the latter from a penalty corner.

Ireland hit back following the concession of the second, with a Ben Johnson goal in the 26th minute.

However, that revival was shortlived as William Ghislain and Thibeau Stockbroekx scored quickfire goals either side of the half-time whistle, before a 53rd-minute consolation from Matthew Nelson for Ireland.

The defeat leaves Ireland second in Pool A above third-placed Japan on goal difference. A draw in their head-to-head on Wednesday would be enough to book a place in the semi-finals.

The top two in each pool will advance to the last four, with the eventual finalists and third-place finisher in the mini-tournament set to qualify for this summer's Olympics in Paris.