Key events
Mouat acknowledges a good battle but is disappointed to lose, fessing up to his error during the eighth end. They know what it’s like trying to bounce back in games, and what it’s like to make mistakes on the big occasion having prepared for a while.
To the ice hockey we go, and USA have just scored through Barnes. They lead Sweden 1-0 with 14.14 left in the first.
…and there it is. A tremendous shot from Ramsfjell does everything it needs to, meaning Norway win 7-6 and GB probably need to beat USA and Canada in their final two matches to move into the knockouts.
Last go for Mouat, looking to drift one on to the button, close to the other red stone just to its side, and he’s nailed a beauty! Norway have one shot, under pressure, to get by the guard, take the reds away, and avoid his own stone. Here it comes….
We’re under way in the first semi of the women’s ice hockey, USA meeting Sweden. We’ll focus on that shortly, once this match is over.
Norway knock the two GB stones out of the end, leaving one of their own on the button, almost dead centre; GB have a chat, trying to work out the best route to the steal that is on. Here comes Bruce, looking to freeze right on to the yellow, and … it’s not a bad effort. It’s at the bottom of the button but, going last, you still have to fancy Norway to get rid of this one and whatever GB do with their final go.
Poor stone from Norway, inadvertently knocking two that are loitering before the house out of the road. That wasn’t what they intended, then GB respond by sending down a guard which stops maybe two-thirds of the way down, so their opponents take a timeout.
GB take a moment to discuss, seeking to steal; currently, there’s a Norwegian yellow in the green, with their red on the edge of the blue. They knock it to the middle and now have two blocking the route to it with three stones to go.
Elsewhere, Canada have beaten Czechia 8-2; Germany lead Sweden 5-3 playing the ninth.
Here comes Mouat, he’s getting his two but will he manage three? He will not, so going to the final end, we’re level at 6-6, Norway with the hammer.
But before that, Norway go, remove one of the GB stones … and leave a shot at a double, perhaps a triple. This might be the match, right here.
GB play their big shot, hoping to remove two yellows, and they miss the second but it’s still a decent effort and should leave them a go at getting the points they need, last go.
Norway will have the hammer for the final end, so GB really need two points, three if possible. With two stones left and various permutations available, they take a timeout.
The teenager’s version of “I’m not angry, I’m just disappointed.”
GB still have the hammer, and really need something this end to stave off defeat. I don’t fancy them.
Gosh, Norway are all over this now, two adding another point for 6-4
But now he goes to try and work himself a one-pointer, Norway with a stone in the house … and Mouat misses! Norway steal and lead 6-4, beginning to scent victory.
Bruce Mouat has lovely eyes; more news as I get it.
See Maradona, Diego Armando: World Cup 1982.
What separates winners from losers is often not just talent, but ability to express it under pressure. I’m certain Malinin will be back, having learned invaluable lessons about himself, sport and life.
Elsewhere, Canada lead Czechia 7-1, Germany are up 4-2 on defending champs Sweden, now in danger of elimination, and China have walloped Italy 11-4, in the process recording their first win of the competition.
Yup, Norway have a shot to level the match … and Ramsfjell makes it look easy. It’s 4-4 after seven.
A poor end for GB, Norway sneaking a yellow stone between two and getting rid of a red to have two in better position; Bruce Mouat responds well, and this remains in the balance.
Also going on:
So, what do we have in store later on? The below then, at 8.10, the second women’s ice hockey semi in which Canada face Switzerland.
After the curling – does such a time even exist? – at 3.40pm, it’s USA v Sweden in the semis of the women’s ice hockey. There’s nothing other than that until 6pm, when the evening sesh properly gets going.
Canada are in total control against Czechia, up 4-1 playing the sixth, and they have the hammer.
A good end from GB, using the hammer to take two points from it; they lead Norway 4-2 and look more likely to extend than be reined in.
We’ve all been there.
Norway have levelled with GB at 2-2; we’re now playing the sixth end, GB with the hammer.
Looking at the table and scores, there’s still scope for the teams outside the four qualification spots to penetrate them, but it’ll take a major effort; the way the matches have gone, the better teams are only losing to each other – GB’s defeat to Italy is the only outlier, and if China see out their advantage, the gap is likely to grow.
These are the current rankings:
We’ve an afternoon of curling awaiting us, so here’re latest scores: in our main match, GB lead Norway playing five; elsewhere, it’s Italy 2-4 China, Czechia 0-3 Canada and Sweden 2-1 Germany.
Thanks Billy and word up everyone. Let’s get to it.
Daniel Harris has returned. He can take you through the afternoon’s curling and ice hockey. GB lead Norway 2-1 in the men’s curling after two ends. Ciao.
Men’s slalom report: Loïc Meillard of Switzerland used a strong second run to win the men’s slalom on a day that saw Brazilian ski racer Lucas Pinheiro Braathen fall in the first run, ending his bid for another Olympic gold.
The event closes out the men’s Alpine program at the Milano Cortina Games.
Meillard adds gold to a silver he won in the team combined and bronze from the giant slalom.
Meillard finished in a two-run combined time of 1min 53.61sec. He edged Fabio Gstrein of Austria by 0.35 sec, while Henrik Kristoffersen of Norway took bronze. It was quite a contrast of runs, too, with snow and fog in the morning and the sun peeking out for the afternoon.
Norway’s Atle Lie McGrath, the first run leader, straddled a gate and was out. He was so irate that he threw his ski poles over the netting on one side. He then went outside the netting on the other side, trudging along the snow. He sat down, breathing heavily.
Pinheiro Braathen made history by winning the giant slalom Saturday, becoming the first athlete from South America to win a medal at a Winter Olympics. But his ski slipped out on a fast first run and his bid for another medal was over. AP
What an Olympics this has been for Switzerland’s skiers. They’ve won four out of the five men’s alpine events:
Downhill: Franjo von Allmen (Swi)
Team combined: Franjo von Allmen & Tanguy Nef (Swi)
Super-G: Franjo von Allmen (Swi)
Giant slalom: Lucas Pinheiro Braathen (Brazil)
Slalom: Loïc Meillard (Swi)
