Italy Stuns U.S., Germany Surprises Finland in Curling

Germany surprised Finland and Italy shocked the United States, as the field in Olympic curling bunched in the middle.

Canada, Britain and Sweden lead the round-robin at 3-1, and four teams are next at 2-2 -- including the Americans and the unheralded hosts.

Italy is not a traditional curling power and is in the tournament only as host country, but it beat the U.S. and rocked the Olympic curling venue on Wednesday night, earning a 6-5 victory in the men’s opening round. The Italians took an early 2-0 lead and broke a 4-4 tie with a point in the eighth end.

Previously winless Germany allowed just one point in the fifth end and stole a point in the ninth to take a 5-1 lead before Finland, needing a big frame just to extend the match, settled for a meaningless one point in the final end and lost, 5-2.

In other night session action, Britain beat Norway, 6-3, and Canada beat Switzerland, 7-5.

Canada’s Brad Gushue slipped a stone into a crowded house in the fourth end in Wednesday’s early session, scoring three to take the lead and win, 9-5, in nine ends. It was the first loss for the British men.

Things weren’t much better for the British women, who lost, 8-6, to Sweden. Rhona Martin’s team fell behind, 5-0, after allowing the Swedes to steal a pair of points on consecutive ends.

The Scotswomen scored two in the ninth end to make it 7-6, but with her last rock Martin was forced to choose whether to hide behind a corner guard or put it in the middle of the target unprotected.

She took the guard, leaving the middle open for Anette Norberg. She put the hammer right on the button for the victory.

In other women’s games Wednesday afternoon, Italy beat Russia, 6-4, for its first Olympic victory. Norway beat Japan, 9-4, in nine ends and the United States earned its first victory of the tournament by beating Denmark, 8-3.

The Swedish men also fell from the unbeaten when Norway skip Paal Trulsen knocked out their stone with his first throw in the second end and left his in the house. He made it a four-ender with the hammer to give Norway an early 4-1 lead, and they coasted to a 9-4 victory in eight ends.

In the other early game, Finland beat New Zealand, 7-5. The United States, Italy, Germany and Switzerland had the session off.

Sweden (3-1) remained in first place in the opening round, with five teams tied at 2-1 in the race for the four spots in the medal round: Canada, Britain, Norway, Finland and the United States.