PINEROLO, Italy -- Pete Fenson played a draw toward the
center of the target area, helping the U.S. curling team tie Canada
midway through their match. Then, the familiar chant began.
"U-S-A! U-S-A! U-S-A!"
It was coming from the Swiss fans.
The Americans had a few more supporters than usual Monday on the
final day of round-robin play, but Canada rallied late for a 6-3
win to clinch the fourth and final spot in the medal round.
Switzerland (5-4) and Norway (5-4) needed the Canadians (6-3) to
lose to remain in contention.
If the teams had finished in a three-way tie for fourth,
tiebreaker matches would have been held Tuesday.
"It's our fault," Swiss skip Ralph Stoeckli said. "We played
three bad games. However, there are many good teams and this
round-robin was really close and tough."
Olympic curling matches are played simultaneously on
side-by-side sheets, so it's easy for fans to follow multiple teams
at once -- a necessity in both the men's and women's final sessions.
The women finished their round-robin at night with a scenario
similar to the men. Four teams were fighting for one semifinal
spot, and like in the afternoon, the Canadians had a chance to
clinch it with a win.
Canada's game against Denmark (2-7) was the last to finish, and
skip Shannon Kleibrink won it on the last shot, knocking one of
Denmark's stones out of the center and keeping hers just close
enough to earn a point for a 9-8 win.
That kept Britain (5-4) and Russia (5-4) out of a possible
tiebreaker. The Russians beat Norway 10-8, also on the last shot
just moments before Canada (6-3) won.
Britain beat the U.S. women 10-4. The Americans (2-7) conceded
after six ends, or innings, to finish a disappointing tournament.
Switzerland (7-2) beat Japan 11-5 in eight ends. The Japanese
(4-5) also entered the session with a chance to catch Canada.
In the morning, Japan and Russia beat Italy and Sweden by
identical 6-4 scores, and Norway clinched its spot in the medal
round with an 8-1 win over Denmark in six ends.
In Wednesday's women's semifinals, Norway (6-3) will face Sweden
(7-2) and Canada plays Switzerland (7-2).
The Canadian men will face the U.S. again Wednesday in their
semifinal. Finland (7-2) and Britain (6-3) will play in the other --
like the Americans, the two teams had clinched berths before
Monday's matches.
The Swiss men kept their hopes alive momentarily with a 10-2 win
that eliminated the Italians (4-5). After the match, most Italian
fans left, but the Swiss, American and Canadian contingents
remained.
So did the Norwegian team, which sat quietly in the stands
throughout. Norway, the defending gold medalist, finished
round-robin play a day earlier with Sweden.
At one point, after Switzerland's match had ended, a Swiss fan
ran over to the U.S. cheering section and began waving a small
American flag.
"We could hear the Swiss yelling and stuff," Fenson said with
a chuckle. "We expected that."
Adding to the drama, the Americans (6-3) and Canadians had the
stage to themselves for about an hour -- each of the other two
matches ended after six ends. Italy conceded to Switzerland, and
winless New Zealand did the same to give the Germans a 10-1 win.
Fenson's shot gave the Americans a 2-2 tie in the fifth end, but
Canada eventually took a 4-3 lead on Brad Gushue's takeout in the
eighth. Canada was playing without Jamie Korab, out with what the
team thought might be food poisoning. Mike Adam replaced him.
"The doctors aren't sure," teammate Russ Howard said. "We've
had a lot of pasta and pizza -- maybe the sausage, maybe that's part
of it."
Canada stole another point in the ninth, and the Americans
conceded in the 10th after Gushue knocked their only stone in the
house, or target area, out of play. The Americans had only one
stone remaining.
Gushue raised his arms in triumph as his last shot slid down the
sheet, knowing it would put the game out of reach. The Norwegians
applauded quietly afterward.
"I had a feeling that Canada would win the game," Norway's
Paal Trulsen said. "Something about Canada -- when they're in
trouble they always pick up their game."