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The Russian team of Elena Netcheava, Svetlana Kormilitsyna and Sophia Velikaya came back from a 25-17 deficit in the last 4 matches to tie the score at 43-43 before taking the lead for good at 44-43.

The United States started the match with a strong bout by Mariel Zagunis to go up 5-2 against world #2 Elena Netcheava.  The Russian team battled back to virtually tie the score at 14-15 when Zagunis responded by going on a 5-0 run to put the US up 20-14.  World #1 Sada Jacobson continued the run by earning the next 2 touches on key rival Netcheava and ended the 5th of 9 bouts with the US up 25-17.

In the 6th bout Emily Jacobson held off a rally by 19 year old Velikaya to leave the US up 30-27.  From then, the US and Russia traded touches until the final bout of the match.

Down by 3 touches, Russian team anchor Netcheava went on a 3-0 run to even the score at 40-40.  The US and Russia then traded points until Russia pulled ahead by one point at 44-43.  Russia ended hopes of a US rally by taking the last point and winning the World Championship 45-43.

The start of the match for Russia was 19 year old Sophia Velikaya.  "She is only 19, so she can be very bad or very good.  She will be a great fencer in the future" stated her coach. 

US Officials put an optimistic spin on the loss.  With Mariel Zagunis now qualified for the Olympic Games, the US has the strongest chances of a medal since 1984.  The Olympic Women's Sabre competitions will be only as individuals, as the team competition is excluded from this year's Games.

Photo by Serge Timacheff of FencingPhotos.com

US vs. Russia Match Scores