EUROPE STORMS BACK
by Mike
Panozzo
Buoyed by Mika Immonen's tension-packed 5-4 win over Johnny Archer, the European team pulled to within two points when British snooker legend Steve Davis whitewashed a shaky Michael Coltrain, 5-0 Sunday afternoon at York Hall in the Bethnal Green area of east London. Europe trails just 10-8 in the race-to-12 Ryder Cup-styled tournament.
Facing a seemingly insurmountable 10-6 lead, Immonen pulled to a 4-1 lead on Archer when the American's break consistently left him with no makeable shot. The 32-year-old Georgia native battled back to a 4-4 tie, but Immonen broke and ran the final rack to secure a crucial point for the Euros.
"I knew there was no choice," said Immonen, celebrating his 28th birthday. "I had to win. Johnny had some bad rolls, and in the final game I knew I couldn't let him come to the table. I think we deserved to win one of those 4-4 matches.
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Mika Immonen (left) and Steve Davis earned the cheers of the pro-Euro crowd in York Hall by pulling the European team to within
two points in the battle for the 2000 Mosconi Cup in London.
Photo by
Lawrence Lustig
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"I'm sure that was a confidence builder for the team,"
contined the Finnish player. "It showed we still have the fighting
spirit. "The afternoon comeback continued when the Davis and his mechanically perfect form drilled the hapless Coltrain in what amounted to a mercy killing. Coltrain missed several shots to stay in the match, while Davis pocketed every ball he could see.
"Michael didn't get many shots," said the 43-year-old, six-time world snooker champion. "When he missed, he got punished by the balls, which is the way it should be at this level. I think we're playing very loose right now. Sometimes when a team falls far behind, you start to relax and just enjoy yourself."
The U.S. squad will send captain Earl Strickland, Shannon Daulton and Jeremy Jones into action Sunday evening, while the European squad will put up its captain, Ralf Souquet of Germany, his countryman Thomas Engert, and Sweden's Marcus Chamat.
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