Two-time champions Australia firmly remained on course for a hat-trick of titles by becoming the first team to qualify for the quarterfinals of the men's hockey World Cup with a comfortable 3-0 win over England in a Pool B match here. World number 1 Australia scored three goals in the final quarter to register their second consecutive win in Pool B at the Kalinga Stadium.

The win took Australia to the top of Pool B with six points from two games and secured their place in the quarterfinals of the 16-team event. The Kookaburras became the first to seal a direct quarterfinal berth after China sprang yet another surprise by holding higher-ranked Ireland to a hard-fought 1-1 draw in the other Pool B match. Jin Guo scored from a penalty corner for China in the 43rd minute before Ireland's Alan Sothern drew parity in the very next minute.