By Steve Keating
BEIJING (Reuters) – Slovakia claimed a shock shootout win over the United States to reach the semi-finals of the men’s ice hockey tournament at the Beijing Games on Wednesday to set up a chance of claiming the country’s first ever Olympic medal in the sport.
Peter Cehlarik clinched the victory as the only skater to score in the nail-biting shootout by beating U.S. netminder Strauss Mann after overtime ended with the score tied at 2-2.
After Cehlarik scored the U.S. had one last chance to extend the shootout but captain Andy Miele could not beat netminder Patrik Rybar and the Slovakia bench erupted in wild celebration.
The U.S. appeared to have locked up a semi-final spot in regulation leading 2-1 until Slovakia pulled Rybar for an extra attacker and were rewarded with the equaliser from captain Marek Hrivik with 46 seconds remaining to force overtime.
(Reporting by Steve Keating; Editing by Ken Ferris)
