Europeans Push Americans to the Brink in Day 3

By: Markus Noé

Day 3 started with a key doubles match between John Schmidt/Justin Hall vs Nick Ekonomopoulous/Karl Boyes. With the overall score 6-4 in Europe's favour, this was an important match for the Americans. It was a scrappy affair with neither team looking in form as they traded the first four rack off each others mistakes.

The turning point in this match was at 2-2 when Schmidt played a cut shot off the bottom rail with inside siding. The intention was of course to hit the side rail which it never did as it scratched in the side pocket while Hall stood there in disbelief. Team U.S.A was able to secure the next rack to tie the match at 3. However giving up another ball in hand in the next rack resulted in a run out and the Europeans broke and ran the next rack to win the set. The gut wrenching part for Team U.S.A is unlike years past the European side has looked vulnerable at times, however they have yet to take advantage with this match being an example.

The next match was a singles play and both Hall and Ekonomopoulos were again called upon by their respective sides.  The set began with 3 break and runs with the Europeans having a 2-1 lead. It was Hall's break in the fourth rack and he struck it beautifully making two balls and having a shot on the 1 ball. He got to the 2 ball and shot it in the side and attempted to come up table for the 3 ball, unfortunately while attempting this he unintentionally kissed off the 3 ball and fouled in the corner pocket. This left the table at Ekonomopoulos's mercy which he took full advantage of going up 3-1.

In the following rack it was Ekonomopoulos's turn to scratch and with ball in hand. Hall was able to run out to be only one rack down. Hall followed this up with another beautiful break leaving a "cosmos" run-out which allowed him to tie it a 3-3. The next rack no one could predict, Hall looked to be out however he missed 5 ball. Ekonompoulos then hooked himself behind the 9 ball, after kicking safe Hall lashed out at a bank shot and hooked him again behind the 9 ball. This big of luck put Hall ahead 4-3.  It was a 4-9 combo for Hall in the end that won the match and guaranteeing that the Americans will make it to the final day.

For the last doubles match of this event it was Mark Gray/Karl Boyes vs Corey Deuel/John Schmidt. The Americans kept up the moment and took the first rack despite some nervy play by Schmidt. Gray and Boyes then proceeded to take the next two racks, before Deuel made a nice break which they ran out to tie it at 2-2. Off a dry break the Americans played some great safeties which won them the rack to go up one. Schmidt missed a 5 ball in the next rack and bumped the 9 ball leaving it behind the 6 ball giving up a a combo making it 3-3. This was followed up by an enormous break and run for the Europeans to go up 4-3.  After another safety error by Schmidt he accidentally broke out the remaining cluster, which allowed Europe to take this set 5-3 and push their overall lead to 8-5.

The second last match of the day featured a rematch from day 2 between Justin Bergman and Niels Feijen. The first rack went to Feijen off an over hit shot that bobbled the pocket leaving an easy out. In the next rack Bergman was the benefactor of foul shot from his opponent which lead to a run out of his own. Feijen responded with a break and run regaining the lead. Bergman then scratched off the break and the "Terminator" took that rack as well to go up 3-1. The American was able to win the next rack to go down 3-2, then in the sixth rack Bergman tried to cut a 3 ball down tabled and it skidded on him and hit the side pocket horn on the way down. It set up a 3-9 carom of sorts which Feijen attempted and missed but lucky the 9 ball banked up cross corner with a double kiss for the lucky win. This years World Champ sealed the deal in the next rack with a break and run to lead the Europeans to a 9-5 overall scoreline.

Play ended here for the day leaving the match of Shane Van Boening and Darren Appleton for tomorrow due to time constraints. The story of today was the poor play of John Schmidt, as a veteran he has been called on a lot so far in the first three days and has looked shaky at best. In team play you never want to hang a loss on one player but I am sure at this point even Schmidt would admit to possibly leaving a few points behind these past few days. It has been a long time since Schmidt has been in a pressure cooker situation like this and unfortunately for him and team U.S.A, it shows.

The other veteran they have been leaning on, Corey Deuel, is not living up to his name as the "Prince of Pool" as well. Hopefully tomorrow everyone shows up for single matches, as the Europeans only need 2 more wins to capture another Mosconi Cup victory. Overall this edition of the Mosconi Cup has been more competitive than years past despite the scoreline, it has come down to several key shots which the Americans have be unable to put away. The final day of the Mosconi Cup starts tomorrow at 2 pm. Team U.S.A needs to win by a scoreline of 6-1, a tough task in any competition let alone against the talented and fierce European side. Check out Cue Sport Nation for all your Mosconi Cup updates.