Cape Town, June 14 -- France booked their place in the semi-finals of the FIH Hockey Men's Nations Cup with a 2-0 victory over Ireland on the third day of action here in South Africa.
In the day's other fixture, hosts South Africa kept their semi-final hopes alive with an emphatic 4-0 win over the United States, setting up a decisive final round of pool matches.
France prevailed 2-0 in the battle of the unbeaten sides to top Pool B after a second victory in as many games.
The Irish enjoyed much of the possession and created the better chances in the first half, but itwas France who took the lead, largely against the run of play.
After some patient build-up, they worked their way into the Irish circle and, while Corentin Sellier's initia...