Billiards Digest - Pool's Top Source for News, Views, Tips & More

Europe Takes 9-6 Lead Into Final Day
Dec 15, 2007, 7:57 PM

Feijen's win over Morris assured Team Europe a final-day lead.

On a day that saw the fivesome from the United States continue its "inconsistent bordering on lackluster" play, Team Europe captured four of five matches for the second consecutive day to earn an 9-6 lead heading into the final day of the 2007 Mosconi Cup. The Euros will enter Sunday's singles matches at the MGM Grand Hotel/Casino in Las Vegas needing just two wins to capture the coveted team cup trophy for just the third time in 14 years.

Since opening up a 4-1 lead after the first day, Team USA has dropped eight of 10 matches. Starting Saturday's action tied 5-5, Team Europe quickly snatched the first two matches of the day. Holland's Neils Feijen and 24-year-old Russian Konstantin Stepanov easily dispatched error-prone Johnny Archer and Corey Deuel, 6-2. Transplaned snooker player Tony Drago of Malta then added to Deuel's personal misery with a 6-2 trashing.

Trailing 7-5 in the overall match score, Team USA earned a much-needed point when Archer and 24-year-old Shane Van Boening, the hottest player coming into the event, scored an emotional 6-3 win over Stepanov and recently crowned WPA world champion Daryl Peach.

But the Euros quickly snapped their American counterparts back into place, besting two of America’s best in the day-ending singles matches. Feijen stopped Rodney Morris, 6-4, and German Ralf Souquet dispatched Earl Strickland 6-4 to send Team Europe happily off into the Las Vegas evening.