Olympic curling 2014 results: Team USA loses heartbreaker to Russia

Team USA’s chances to medal in took suffered a serious blow on Friday as they fell in heartbreaking fashion to Russia, 7-6.

With the score tied 6-6 in the 10th end, Team USA’s John Shuster had a chance to save the match (or at least send it to overtime) with the hammer. It would’ve taken a perfect shot, as the Russians set themselves up nicely on the sheet. This is what happened; Russia’s stones are red, the United States’ are yellow.

At most, that’s a one-inch difference. It was one of the best matches of the Olympics to date, and one that will really sting for quite some time. Here was Shuster’s face as the stone made its way towards the circle:

The other late matches saw Great Britain narrowly edge Denmark, 8-6. China held off Norway, 7-5, while Germany survived a late push from the Swiss to win, 8-7.

In the early action, Team USA knocked off Germany, 8-5, behind two two huge ends. The Germans took an early 1-0 lead after two, but four-point efforts from the U.S. in the third and seventh ends would prove to be the difference.

China trailed 5-4 in the 10th against Sweden, but they were able to tie it up, prompting an overtime session. Sweden would bounce back to win, though, 6-5. Canada continued to roll on Friday with a convincing 10-4 victory over Norway.

Of the four women’s matches, only was even remotely close. Russia defeated Switzerland, 6-3, relying on two late points in the 10th to ensure the Swiss wouldn’t be able to complete a last-minute comeback attempt. Team USA fell to Denmark, 9-2, while Great Britain needed just seven ends to defeat Japan, 12-3. China had its way with Korea, picking up an 11-3 win in eight ends.

Curling will continue on Saturday with another busy day of action on the ice.

• SB Nation’s Winter Olympics medal tracker | Meet Team USA

• Guy falls off skeleton sled, somehow doesn’t die | #Lookit

• Accidental Selfie Grandma is the star of the Olympics

• Remembering the 1980 Miracle on Ice | Longform: Team USA’s disaster in 1984

• Hockey: Men’s schedule | All 12 men’s rosters | USA roster analysis