Intro:

Belgium's ladies sealed the place at the London Olympic Games after beating Ireland 4-1 in the final of the FIH qualifying tournament in Antwerp on Sunday (March 25th).

Sofie Gierts was the hero for Belgium, scoring a hat-trick of goals inside the first 20 minutes to send the host nation on the way to a famous victory, and she was later named player of the tournament.

Script:

Belgium and Ireland went head-to-head for the second time in less than 48 hours when they contested the final of the FIH Road to London Olympic qualifying tournament in Antwerp on Sunday.

The teams drew 1-1 on Friday, and here Belgium drew first blood. Sofie Gierts plucked the ball out of the air and smashed in on 12 minutes.

Gierts showing great skill to control and shoot in one fluid motion.

Six minutes later it was 2-0 - Belgium awarded a penalty flick after some clumsy Irish defending.

Gierts found the net again, this time with an unstoppable penalty.

And Gierts completed her hat-trick moments later after a well worked penalty corner.

The Irish defence drawn over to one side, only for the pass to Gierts to wrong foot them all and put Belgium firmly in control.

Ireland pulled one back with a more direct approach - Audrey O'Flynn dragged in from a penalty corner on 56 minutes.

But Belgium sealed the win when Erica Coppey completed the scoring minutes later.

Belgium knew they had done enough, and at the sound of the final hooter their players and fans erupted in to jubilant celebration. Those same players and fans can now book their tickets to London this summer for the 2012 Olympic Games.