U.S. Men’s Curling Team Upsets Sweden, Wins in Two Straight

Taking advantage of poor throws and hammers

Cortina Bay, ITA- After a much-needed victory for the USA over Germany, their next opponent in the morning was against the defending Gold Medal Champions in Team Sweden, who already have a gold medalist in Rasmus Wranaa from the Mixed Doubles. This time, however, the young American Curlers were ready for the challenge as they took advantage of some errors from Sweden and shocked the curling world as they earned an eight-to-five victory in nine ends.

Overview

Each side exchanged a point as Sweden took a two-to-one lead after three ends. The USA got a magical number and a fantastic fourth-end performance when they had two stones inside the eight-foot, forcing their opponents to make a serious attempt on their eighth stone. When Niklas Edin delivered a fastball down the left side, that stone completely missed everything and went through the house. All Daniel Casper had to do was gently throw the hammer down, with some solid sweeping, directing it inside the four-foot for a big three-pointer and a four-to-two lead.

Sweden got a point in the fifth end, but the USA kept pressing on. Casper was ready for the challenge as he got a point by putting the hammer down and knocking out two stones for a clear and landing inside the four-foot to make it five-to-three, then in the seventh end forced Edin to use his hammer and make a decision to which stone to knock out, if he couldn’t get both. One went out, but the other stayed inside the eight-foot for another point and a six-to-three lead. Sweden eventually got a two-point end in the eighth and cut the deficit to eight-to-five.

In the ninth end, Sweden tried to get two USA stones out; on their 8th stone, they only got one of the two. Casper got his hammer ready and threw it down with ease. As it approached the house, it got a lucky bounce off the Swedish Guard inside the 12-foot and slid perfectly inside the button for a big two-point end and an eight-to-five lead. While the tenth end was being contested, the USA used its last stone to position itself to take the victory and forced Sweden to hold back their hammer and concede the match. Now their record is 3-2, they can get on a run and climb the table.

Olympic Curling News:

• U.S. Women’s Curling Team Defeats Japan in the Later Ends
• U.S. Men’s Curling Team Gets a Great Start with a Win over Germany. Breaks Two Game Losing Streak
• U.S. Men’s Curling Falls to Canada, Fails on the Hammer
• U.S. Women’s Curling Team Finally Defeats Canada In the Last End

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