It was not a happy day for Debbie McCormick (right), who led the U.S. women to the gold medal at the 2003 world championships. AP

AOMORI, Japan (AP)  -- Scotland capitalized on a costly mistake by U.S. skip Debbie McCormick on Friday to defeat the United States 11-5 in the playoffs at the women's world curling championship.

With Scotland leading 1-0 after the second end, McCormick's last shot in the third hit a guard, allowing the Scots to get four points.

Instead of being tied 1-1, it was 5-0 for Kelly Wood's rink and the U.S. team couldn't recover.

"I was a little heavy on that shot," said McCormick, fighting back tears. "It was wide, and it's hard to come back when you are down 5-0. We're very disappointed."

McCormick pulled her team back to 8-5, but Wood made a double takeout in the ninth and then made a draw with last rock to score three.

Wood said she was as surprised as anyone by McCormick's shot in the third.

"She had so much space and just knocked into a guard," Wood said. "There is no way you would expect that to happen. It's strange but nice for us."

Scotland hasn't won the world championship since 2002 and can finish with no less than the bronze medal here.

McCormick made a brilliant draw in the eighth to give the U.S. two points, but it was far from the performance that led her team to silver last year. The U.S. won the gold medal for the first time in 2003 under McCormick.

Canada will play Denmark on Saturday, with the winner advancing to the final.

Scotland, which handed Canada its only loss of the round-robin draw, will play in the bronze medal game Saturday with a chance to move on to the final.

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

APTV 03-23-07 1052EDT