WATCH: Ireland on brink of historic Olympics qualification
Although both sides had already qualified for the quarter-finals, it was a statement victory by Darren Smith’s 14th-ranked charges and a first ever over the Americans. It was a third win in four pool matches — two against higher-ranked opponents — and means Ireland will take on China in the quarter-finals tomorrow, their results helping them avoid big guns Great Britain and Argentina.
Ireland hasn’t qualified a team sport for any Olympic competition since 1948 while its hockey teams have never been to a Games. But victory over the seventh-ranked Chinese — who surprisingly lost 1-0 to 15th-ranked Spain in their pool and haven’t scored in three games — will earn them a berth in Rio.
