On to doubles in Match 2.
Filler/Gorst break and run in rack one to take a 1-0 lead over SVB/Deuel.
Rack 2 was a tug of war dictated by the fact that the three ball was tied up in knots. Filler played what appeared to be an excellent safety on the three, sending the three uptable and leaving the cue ball on the bottom rail, but the ball went into the side, so it was back to safety play. Europe earned the first shot, but Filler's miss brought SVB to the table. Shane made the five but scratchds. With ball in hand, Gorst made the five nine combo to close out the rack and Europe took a 2-0 lead in this match. It was a missed opportunity for Team USA in this rack for sure.
Very pretty run out by Europe in Rack 3. Gorst misplayed shape onto the seven, but a masterful long two rail inside english follow by Filler restored order, and Europe took a 3-0 lead.
Deuel broke dry in rack 4, Gorst played safe on the one ball, but it was a poor shot, leaving SVB a look at the one ball. SVB played a solid safety from there, The rack then became a comedy of errors by both sides, but Shane's miss of the eight resulted in a snooker as the eight got just the right carom of the side pocket point, and when Europe failed to kick it in, it was a fitting end to a bizarre rack of nine ball.
Europe won the first tree racks and US the fourth. I think I've seen this before.
Rack 5 began with Deuel's miss of a near hanger on the two, but it went in a different pocket. SVB's safety was just barely passable, and safety play continued. Filler missed an easy three and SVB's effort is again only so-so. Deuel's safety on the three ball is excellent, but Filler jumps his way out of it. SVB tries to jump in the three and misses. Gorst makes another error, followed by a Deuel error in which he double kisses on an attempted safety. More misses ensue, but it is Team USA that ultimately prevails in what was surely one of the worst played racks in Mosconi history.
In Rack 6, a really wild shot by Deuel opened the door for Team Europe, and Filler/Gorst ran it out impressively for a 4-2 lead. Glad to see some better pool at this point.
In rack 7, SVB and Deuel are successful running up to the eight, but SVB only leaves Corey a tough bank on the nine.. Corey misses it on the pro side, leaving Gorst tough, but Fedor is up to the long bank, edning the match 5-2, and typing the Mosconi Cup at 1-1.
So far, the climactic moment in both matches was a long bank by a Mosconi rookie.
This match was, quite simply, a stinker, in which all four players made many errors.
Finally, I think I'm going to be sick of these commentators don't stop making excuses for the players as we must all endure this unusually poor play. while taking it in stride. Unlike every other year, these players didn't get here by playing good pool during the months leading up to the Mosconi Cup, so the commentators should just grin and bear it.