Loss to Switzerland leaves Team Kim in a tough position

From left: Kim Kyeong-ae, Kim Cho-hi and Kim Seon-yeong watch the play during a game against Switzerland at the National Aquatics Center in Beijing on Wednesday. [REUTERS/YONHAP]

Team Kim's hopes of advancing to the curling semifinals took a hit on Wednesday morning when they lost 8-4 to top-ranked Switzerland in a close fought game at the National Aquatics Centre in Beijing.

Despite the final score, Korea did put up a good fight against the table-topping Switzerland.

Although the Swiss team started with the last stone, Team Kim forced a 0-0 tie in the first end and then stole the first point in the second end. Switzerland kept the hammer all the way to the third end, where they tied the score at 1-1.

Korea took a 2-1 lead in the fourth end, but conceded a crucial three points in the fifth end to put Switzerland ahead by two. That snapped Korea's momentum, forcing them to grind out single points in the sixth and seventh ends to tie the game at 4-4.

A scoreless eighth end set Korea up to likely take the hammer in the tenth end, which looked like it could prove to be the key to victory. That plan took a hit in the ninth end, however, when Switzerland added two to take the score to 6-4.

Korea could have forced an extra inning if they'd be able to add two points of their own in the tenth, but Team Kim were unable to stop the Swiss onslaught. Instead, Switzerland added two more points of their own to finish the game at 8-4.

With the loss, Korea now has three wins and four losses so far in the nine-game round robin tournament. With only the top four teams advancing, Korea will need to win its final four games and some key opponents lose some games for Team Kim to advance.

Korea currently sits at seventh place on the round robin table, with Switzerland in first, Sweden in second, Canada and Japan tied in third and Great Britain and the United States tied in fifth. With seven wins and one loss, Switzerland is guaranteed a spot in the semifinals.

Team Kim will return to the ice later on Wednesday evening to take on No. 9 Denmark at 9:05 p.m. They will then play their final game of the round robin tournament against Sweden at 3:05 p.m. on Thursday.

BY JIM BULLEY [jim.bulley@joongang.co.kr]