WATCH: Ireland Men's Hockey team one step closer to Olympics after 6-0 win

Alan Sothern scored a hat-trick as Ireland beat China 6-0 in their World League clash.

Alan Sothern scored a hat-trick as Ireland beat China 6-0 in their World League Semi-Final Pool B clash in Antwerp.

Ireland’s first win of the tournament – after a draw with Great Britain and loss to Malaysia – came in convincing fashion against a team which has now lost four times and conceded 23 goals.

Britain beat China 8-1 on Thursday and Ireland were left frustrated by disciplined defending in the first quarter.

Sothern scored twice in quick succession in the second before winning a penalty stroke, which was saved.

Peter Caruth scored Ireland’s third after fine link-up play before Ronan Gormley netted from a penalty corner early in the second half.

Sothern’s third followed before Stephen Dowds netted a sixth.

Goalkeeper David Harte suffered a neck injury following a collision with a Chinese forward and had to be replaced by David Fitzgerald.

Ireland play Belgium on Sunday, but have already advanced to the quarter-finals. The top three ranked sides at the end of the World League qualify for Rio 2016.