Belgium 4, France 0

Belgium needed just one point in tonight’s game against France to earn a spot in Sunday’s Athlon Car Lease FIH Road to London Tournament final and came away with three after earning a convincing 4-0 victory against France in front of a sell-out crowd in Kontich, Belgium.

Stephanie De Groof’s short corner skills proved to be too much for the French to handle as her efforts accounted for three of four of Belgium’s goals.

Belgium was clearly the better team out of the gates with several big chances. In the 19^th minute Sde Groof got Belgium on the board with her first short corner marker. Helen Delmee doubled the lead with a deflection from Anouk Raes’ shot.

The 2-0 lead stood through much of the second half as the chances were few and far between on both sides. De Groof put in her second short corner of the night with 15 minutes left in regulation and followed up four minutes later to complete the hat trick and give Belgium an insurmountable 4-0 advantage.

The loss leaves the 25^th-ranked French still looking for their first points. Meanwhile, #16 Belgium joins #14 Ireland on top of the leader board with the full 12 points in four games. The duo will meet tomorrow in a purely academic match with nothing on the line but bragging rights going into Sunday’s final.