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As it happenedended

Winter Olympics 2018: Team GB 5-10 Sweden - women's curling semi-final as it happened

Follow stone-by-stone coverage from this morning's semi-final

Ed Malyon
Curling Correspondent
Friday 23 February 2018 13:34 GMT
Comments
What is curling? The Winter Olympics sport explained

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Eve Muirhead's trigger finger deserted her as Great Britain's curling team were beaten 10-5 by Sweden in their Olympic semi-final at the Gangneung Ice Arena.

Muirhead had deployed her 'pistol' to sink favourites Canada on Wednesday but two days later it was more a case of shooting herself in the foot as a calamitous seventh end signalled an emphatic defeat.

For the second consecutive Games the 27-year-old Muirhead will now face the tough task of raising spirits ahead of Saturday's bronze medal match against their fellow last-four losers Japan.

Here is the action, as it happened:

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Brilliant effort from the Swedish skip and GB are in huge trouble. Eve Muirhead needs a big hammer with Sweden scoring 3 as things stand.

Ed Malyon23 February 2018 12:51

Huge blunder from Muirhead at the end of End 7 and Sweden score THREE to pull away. Dreadful scenes and the Brits may be heading for the bronze medal match.

Ed Malyon23 February 2018 12:52

Right then, hoping for THE MIRACLE OF ALL MIRACLES we enter End 8 more in hope than expectation.

The situation is as above and GB call a time out. They're looking for a way to drag this back from the edge. 

Sloan's first stone of the end is a nice shot that leaves three in the house but that central red in the picture remains. 

A brilliant effort from Sweden's Sara McManus clears two yellow stones. Defensive and effective curling. 

Ed Malyon23 February 2018 13:03

Sloan again, barking at Vicki Adams to sweep harder but Sweden have the hammer and they're still taking this end as things stand. It's not quite enough from GB who need to score big and score quickly.

Sweden are in a strong position as McManus leaves them with three in the house and a British conference is ongoing down there.

"We have to give ourselves a chance," they say. Not wrong.

Ed Malyon23 February 2018 13:06

Muirhead is up - aggressively she's trying to manufacture a 3 when it might have been wiser to settle up. 

She's short on that one, a difficult shot but now GB are really up against it with Anna Hasselborg ready to play the sensible stuff and close the hole on Britain. 

Ed Malyon23 February 2018 13:08

Hasselborg playing then...

.... and she knocks out that yellow you see on the nearside of the picture. 

Eve Muirhead aiming for a 2. Anything less is likely defeat. 

Ed Malyon23 February 2018 13:09

Eve is aiming here....

...to thread the needle. Can she slide through, hit her own stone and take out the red?

SHE CAN! 2 FOR TEAM GB, IT'S 8-5 NOW

Ed Malyon23 February 2018 13:10

So there is a chance for Team GB. Two ends remain, one winner advances to the Olympic semi-final, the other cast out to the abyss of the bronze medal match (likely against Japan, who are losing to South Korea).

Stay tuned....

Ed Malyon23 February 2018 13:15

GB can't afford any misses and there have been a few already in End 9.

Three in the house for Sweden as they set themselves up nicely for progression. Sloan places one nicely but the Swedes drop one inside it.

Ed Malyon23 February 2018 13:20

Eve will aim to knock out that red and nestle in for 2...

...which she does well, leaving Anna Hasselborg the option of popping another just inside it and in doing so she has almost sealed victory for Sweden. A brilliant shot that, bearing in mind those two reds on the other side of the house, leaves Eve Muirhead with an almost impossible effort to salvage this.

Ed Malyon23 February 2018 13:23

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