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U.S. STEALS TWO-GAME LEAD IN 2000 MOSCONI CUP
by Mike Panozzo

An ominous beginning turned into a happy ending for the U.S. team Saturday afternoon at the Mosconi Cup in London.

Entering the final round of doubles matches, the Americans held a 5-4 advantage, with their strongest duo, Johnny Archer and Shannon Daulton, facing Europe's weakest links, Brit Steve Knight and Sweden's Marcus Chamat. But the Knight and Chamat stormed to a 5-1 win, lifting the European squad into a 5-5 tie in total match score. And when Europe's strongest duo, team captain Ralf Souquet and German countryman Thomas Engert streaked to a 3-1 lead over a re-vamped American pairing that put its two youngest players, Corey Deuel, 23, and Michael Coltrain, 25, on the spot, it looked as though the Euros were on their way to their first lead. But some untimely misses by Engert and solid shooting by the unflappable Deuel pulled the U.S. to a stunning 5-4 win.

U.S. captain Earl Strickland (right) and Jeremy Jones rolled to victory Saturday at the Mosconi Cup, giving the American team a 7-5 overall lead.

Photo by
Lawrence Lustig

U.S. captain Earl Strickland and Jeremy Jones followed with a nearly flawless match against Brit Steve Davis and Finland's Mika Immonen to earn a 5-1 match win and give the U.S. a 7-5 overall lead. The first team to win 12 total matches will earn the coveted cup."That was a huge comeback for Corey and Michael," said Archer. "That really bolstered our confidence."

German teammates Thomas Engert (left) and Ralf Souquet can't bear to watch their match against Americans Michael Coltrain and Corey Deuel slip away Saturday afternoon in London.

Photo by
Lawrence Lustig

"It was a match that was almost impossible to lose," said a dejected Souquet. "We got all the rolls and still managed to give the match away. It could be a turning point in the competition, but there is still a long way to go. "It's just frustrating," Souquet continued. "Twice we've had an opportunity to take the overall lead and put pressure on the Americans, and both times we've failed."

Twenty-three year-old Corey Deuel punctuated the American team's come-from-behind, 5-4 win over Europe's Thomas Engert and Ralf Souquet Saturday afternoon in the Mosconi Cup.

Photo by
Lawrence Lustig

The action shifts to singles matches for the duration of the event, with Strickland, Deuel and Daulton scheduled to play Friday night. The Europeans will send Souquet, Engert and Knight into Friday night's matches. The Mosconi Cup will conclude at the York Hall venue Sunday.