GB Men Top Group Stage With 6-0 Win Over China

Great Britain Men's Team confirmed their spot in the semi-finals of the FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers 2024 with a massive 6-0 win over China in their last Group A match on Thursday in Muscat, Oman.

Sam Ward (16', 34') and Zach Wallace (29', 48') both netted twice, while Phil Roper (3') and Will Calnan (36') scored a goal each to help GB finish on top in the group stage.

Riding high on their back-to-back comprehensive wins, GB displayed their dominance from the word go, launching consistent attacks against China. They took the lead in the third minute of the match through Roper's remarkable field goal. They earned their first penalty corner in the very next minute but missed out on capitalising on it.

Having dominated ball possession, GB had as many as four more penalty corners but couldn't convert any of the chances, ending the opening quarter with a 1-0 lead.

GB doubled their lead in the very first minute of the second quarter through Ward from open play. They continued with the same attacking approach and earned timely penalty corners but couldn't find an opening until Wallace scored a stunning field goal in the 29th minute to make it 3-0 at the end of the first half.

The third quarter saw a similar story, with GB mostly rotating the ball inside the Chinese half. Ward added the fourth goal from open play in the 34th minute, and two minutes later, Calnan also scored a field goal to make it 5-0 for GB.

The final quarter saw GB add their sixth goal to their massive tally through Wallace, who found the back of the net during a penalty corner routine.

China did survive the GB onslaught in the final phase of the match, not allowing them to score further goals.

With this win, GB finished on top of Group A with nine points.

GB will take on New Zealand in the semi-final of the FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers 2024 on January 20, 2024, at 1400 UK Time. Watch live on BBC Sport and red button.