Team USA wins thriller over Sweden in mixed double curling – NBC10 Philadelphia
Team USA’s mixed double curling squad is back in the winning column.
After losing their previous two competitions, the Americans Vicky Persinger and Chris Plys bounced back with an exciting 8-7 victory in the final over Sweden’s Almida De Val and two-time Olympic medalist Oskar Eriksson.
Team USA secured the win in the first extra end after Sweden’s last throw from De Val failed to knock the USA’s stone out of the points position.
The two sides shared the first four ends before the United States took a 4-2 lead with a fifth point of two points. Sweden then called their powerplay and responded with a three-point sixth finish to jump ahead at 5-4.
The drama continued in the sixth end, when the Americans called their powerplay and responded right-back with their own three-point performance to regain the lead at 7-5. Persinger’s hammer throw knocked one of Sweden’s stones out of the house to pick up the three points.
When Sweden went into the eighth and final end that need at least two points to stay alive, Sweden secured two points with the hammer to force an extra end.
The trend of trading leads continued in the first extra end, when the United States secured the huge 8-7 victory.
Now at 2-2, Persinger and Plys are tied for fifth place with two other teams. Sweden, which has won three straight, is fourth with 3-2.
Team USA is back in action on Saturday at 01:05 ET against China’s Fan SuYuan and Ling Zhi. The Chinese duo also have 2-2 in round-robin games.