US beat Italy, set up mixed doubles gold-medal curling clash vs. Sweden

CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy -- The United States' Korey Dropkin and Cory Thiesse beat reigning Olympic and world champions Italy 9-8 in the mixed doubles semifinals at the Milan Cortina Games on Monday to set up a final against Sweden, who defeated in-form Britain 9-3.

The Americans edged the hard-fought battle to ensure that Italy's Amos Mosaner and Stefania Constantini will not take gold for the first time in the three competitions they have played together.

With Italy up 4-2 after three ends, Thiesse produced a pinpoint draw to score a three-pointer and give the 2023 world champions the lead at the halfway mark.

The crowd at the Cortina Olympic Curling Centre was largely comprised of lively Italian and American supporters, with chants of 'Italia, Italia, Italia' and 'USA, USA, USA' breaking out after every few shots.

Italy rallied to take an 8-7 lead heading into the final end, but the U.S. had the hammer and a precise double take-out by Dropkin cleared up the ice, with Thiesse sealing the win on the last stone.

In the other semifinal, 2024 world champions Isabella Wranaa and Rasmus Wranaa of Sweden beat Bruce Mouat and Jennifer Dodds of Britain, who had been in red-hot form and won eight of their nine round-robin stage matches.

Britain made a slow start to trail 3-2 after four ends, but a double takeout by Dodds helped them steal a point and level in the fifth.

Sweden opted to use their powerplay in the sixth and went on to set up four stones in the house which Dodds, who was one of the standout players of the tournament, was unable to make contact with as Isabella Wranaa ensured a five-point score.

The gulf was just too much for Britain to make up and they conceded with one end left to play.

--Reuters, special to Field Level Media