Miracle shot

U.S. opens play with upset of world champion

Tim Somerville: "I feel like I have won a medal already. But there is still a long, long journey to go." Clive Mason/Getty Images

OGDEN, Utah (AP) -- The U.S. men split their opening day curling matches Monday, including a 10-5 upset of world champion Sweden. In women's play, the favored Canadians defeated Sweden 5-4.

U.S. skip Tim Somerville made a difficult shot to beat Sweden. Leading 4-3 in the seventh end, or inning, Somerville used an angle shot to knock one stone into the Swedish stone and push them out of scoring position.

"It was like a 1-in-20 shot but it was kind of the only one I had," Somerville said. "I feel like I have won a medal already. But there is still a long, long journey to go."

In other first round play in the 10-team tournament, Finland defeated Denmark 9-3, Germany topped France 9-5 and Canada, the 2000 world champion, edged Britain 6-4.

The Americans, who finished fourth in 1998, lost their second match to Canada 8-3. In other second round matches, Switzerland beat Norway 5-4, Denmark defeated France 8-7 and Germany beat Finland 7-6.

The top four teams advance to the semifinals beginning on Feb. 20.

In women's play, Canadian skip Kelley Law put her team in control when she scored four just before the halfway break. She was able to capitalize after four-time world champion skip Elisabeth Gustafson left Sweden vulnerable by missing on a double takeout attempt.

In other women's matches, Germany defeated Russia 8-5, Switzerland beat Norway 10-6 and Britain beat Norway 10-6. The U.S. women begins play Tuesday against Japan.

 

Related information
Stories
Curling stones start sliding Monday
Multimedia
Visit Video Plus for the latest audio and video
Search our site	Watch CNN/SI 24 hours a day
	Sports Illustrated and CNN have combined to form a 24 hour sports news and information channel. To receive CNN/SI at your home call your cable operator or DirecTV.