Turnabout: U.S. saber team wins twice by a point
USOC via AP August 17, 2008
Photo: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images
Tim Morehouse of the United States celebrates after the men's team sabre fencing quarterfinals match against Aron Szilagyi of Hungary
BEIJING (AP) Keeth Smart scored the final touch in two straight 45-44 victories, sending the U.S. men's saber team to Sunday's gold medal bout.
Four years ago, the U.S. missed out on a medal because of back-to-back 45-44 losses.
In the semifinals Sunday, the Americans trailed Russia 40-35 before Smart outscored Stanislav Pozdnyakov 10-4 for the win. In the previous round, the U.S. was behind 40-36 before Smart outscored Hungary's Zsolt Nemcsik 9-4.
The U.S. will face France for the gold.
In Athens in 2004, Smart's failure to score the decisive point kept the U.S. from beating France in the semifinals. The same thing happened to him against Russia for the bronze.
It was Pozdnyakov who got the better of Smart four years ago, outscoring him 10-4 in the final round to give Russia the bronze medal. This time, the American turned the tables.
On Saturday, Smart's sister Erinn won a silver medal as part of the women's foil team.
Copyright 2009 by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.
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