Nice Britain have secured a second Winter Olympics medal after the ladies’s curling group beat reigning champions Sweden in an epic semi-final.
Eve Muirhead, Vicky Wright, Jen Dodds and Hailey Duff recovered from dropping the primary finish by 4 factors to seal an exhilarating 12-11 win over Sweden in Beijing.
Group GB solely narrowly progressed to the knockout phases on the Draw Shot Problem tie-breaker, after a remaining victory over the Russian Olympic Committee took their document to 5 wins and 4 losses.
Nice Britain will face Japan in Saturday’s remaining with the winner taking gold and the loser claiming the silver medal.
Bruce Mouat’s males’s aspect are additionally assured a minimum of a silver medal after beating the USA of America of their semi-final match.
Nice Britain captain Muirhead, who misplaced her earlier two Olympic semi-finals, mentioned: ‘It's third time fortunate. I’ve misplaced two semi-finals earlier than and I used to be determined for it.
‘These moments and alternatives don’t come round fairly often. I’m so pleased with these ladies. It's such a group sport and all week we have now dug so deep.
‘I’m fairly speechless proper now however what a second. It sounds superb to say we’re in an Olympic remaining.’
It was a nightmare begin for Muirhead’s group in Beijing’s Ice Dice area, with Group GB conceding 4 within the first finish as Olympic champions Sweden took a big early lead.
However Nice Britain responded immediately with three within the second finish and restricted Sweden to only one from the subsequent three ends to degree the semi-final at 5-5 on the midway stage.
Sweden stopped Nice Britain’s momentum with a two within the sixth, however Group GB levelled it up with two of their very own because the match reached its crescendo.
In a seemingly decisive ninth finish, an excellent remaining throw from Muirhead secured Nice Britain 4 factors to guide 11-8 going into the final, however Sweden responded and compelled a decider with an excellent three within the tenth.
Group GB have been to not be denied a spot within the remaining, nonetheless, and safely negotiated the deciding finish with the hammer to safe a medal.
Sweden now drop into the bronze-medal play-off towards Switzerland, who misplaced to Japan within the different semi-final.
After Nice Britain booked their place within the Olympics remaining, four-time Olympic roller Jackie Lockhart mentioned on BBC: ‘I've by no means seen a match like that.
‘My goodness that was going up one minute down the subsequent. Each these groups clutching onto what was going to be stepping into the ultimate.
‘I’ve mentioned it earlier than, I feel that is going to be a re-run of 2002 and Rhona Martin’s gold medal. This has obtained to be written within the stars.
‘I wager you all these individuals again house are nonetheless leaping up and down with pleasure. I’m so excited that we’re going to get each of our groups within the finals of an Olympics video games.’
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