In one of the best games of this Olympics, the South Korea women’s curling team beat Japan 8-7 in overtime in their semifinals at the Gangneung Curling Center Friday.
This marks the first time for a South Korean curling team to advance to the final game of the Olympics.
South Korea gained an early lead by racking in three points during the first end.
However, it was a close game with Japan inching closer after each end.
By the start of the 10th end Japan reduced the gap to one point leaving the score at 7-6.
Kim Eun-jung delivered the last stone in hopes of knocking out the only Japanese stone in the house but the strength of her delivery was a bit strong, leaving the Japanese stone a few inches closer to the button (the center of the house) to put the match into overtime.
In overtime it was no different from the two teams going stone for stone seeking an advantage.
With two Korean stones in the house, Japan delivered a miracle stone by placing the stone closer to the button, knocking another stone out of the house.
It came to the last stone and Team Korea needed to place it closer to the button than the Japan stone.
With the world watching, Kim released the stone while her teammates swept the ice in front of it furiously. As the stone got closer to the house its speed died down and it slightly kissed the Japanese stone, stopping right next to it.
The crowd went crazy as South Korea’s stone rested just centimeters closer the button to seal the win.
South Korea’s curling team, comprised of Kim Yeong-mi, Kim Kyeong-ae, Kim Eun-jung, Kim Seon-yeong and alternate Kim Cho-hi, competed and won the semifinal.
The Japanese team of Satsuki Fujisawa, Chinami Yoshida, Yumi Suzuki, Yurika Yoshida and alternate Mari Motohashi played a great game.
The South Korean team has a 9-1 record winning eight straight games with the only loss coming against Japan in the early round robin session.
The final is scheduled against Sweden on the last day of the Olympics, Feb. 25.
Sweden demolished Great Britain 10-5 in their semifinal to face Team Korea for the gold.
Japan and Great Britain will play for the bronze on Feb. 24.
Source: THE KOREA TIMES
