Ireland seal landmark back-to-back wins over Belgium

Ireland 4-1 Belgium

Ireland recorded back-to-back wins over Belgium for the first time since 1993 with a 4-1 victory in Antwerp.

Mark Tumilty's team had beaten the Belgians 2-1 on Wednesday, before suffering successive losses to Argentina.

However, Ireland bounced back on Sunday to get the better of Belgium once again, with the match marking their final head-to-head before the two teams meet again on 27 July in the opening Pool B fixture at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Delayed as a result of a thunder, lightning and hailstorm, Sunday's match eventually got under way over an hour late.

Belgium took the lead with a deflected Antoine Kina goal in ninth minute but Ireland equalised through Ben Johnson eight minutes later, before he got a second in the 31st minute to make it 2-1.

Jeremy Duncan touched home a Sean Murray shot for 3-1 in the 44th minute and Ben Walker converted a penalty corner in the 54th minute to make it 4-1.

The victory lifts Ireland off the bottom of the FIH Pro League, albeit temporarily.