GB curlers face play-off after defeat

Great Britain face a play-off with Sweden to reach the semi-finals of the men's curling after losing 9-5 to Norway in their final group game.

Skip David Murdoch gave up three shots in the seventh end and he conceded after taking just one in the eighth.

Britain needed to defeat Norway to qualify for the last four, but must now beat Sweden at 2200 GMT on Wednesday.

Sweden, who edged past Denmark 7-6 to force the play-off, beat Britain 6-4 in the opening match of the tournament.

"We just have to see it as another game," said Murdoch. "At least we are not out of it, that's the main thing. So tomorrow we play Sweden and hopefully win that."

We need to be sharper - Murdoch

The winner of the play-off will meet unbeaten Canada in the semi-finals, while Norway will take on Switzerland in the other - both games start at 2200 GMT on Thursday.

It was a disappointing end to Britain's round-robin matches after winning their previous two games.

Murdoch gave up two shots in the first end, but atoned for his mistake by removing a Norwegian stone to score three in the next.

However, Norway skip Thomas Ulsrud hit back with doubles in the third and fifth ends to lead 6-4 at the halfway break.

Ulsrud then stole three in the seventh end when Murdoch, with last-stone advantage, failed with an ambitious triple take out.

Britain were then forced to take a single in the eighth end, which handed the hammer (last stone) to Norway, and Murdoch conceded to leave his team facing Sweden for a place in the last four.

"If we win we would play Canada," he said. "We like playing them, it always brings the best out in us. It is not something we are scared of and if we played (Canada skip) Kevin Martin it would be one almighty game."

GB curler sends down wrong stone

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