Day one is complete at the 2007 Mosconi Cup, and it has been a good day for Team USA.
The day started with five on five team matches and Team USA scored a 6-4 win over Team Europe. The Euro squad never led in that match, although neither team appeared to be completely comfortable.
The second match of the day saw the two Euro veterans Ralf Souquet and Niels Feijen taking on Johnny Archer and Rodney Morris. Team USA took a quick 3-0 lead, but were not able to hold off Europe's run of six wins in the next seven racks. Again, neither team displayed their "A" games in this match and missed balls that would ordinarily have not been problems.
The third match was singles and Team USA sent the reigning US Open Champion Shane Van Boening out to face reigning World Champion Daryl Peach. This match was the first that featured a player showing their true form as Van Boening cruised to a 6-2 win.
The fourth match of the day saw the two Euro newcomers Konstantin Stepanov and Tony Drago facing Earl Strickland and Corey Deuel. This match was close early on as the teams were tied at 1-1, 2-2 and 3-3 before Team USA took their biggest lead at 5-3. Strickland had a chance to end the match, but missed a six-ball during a fairly routine out and Team Europe clawed back to tie the match at 5-5.
Deuel scratched on the break in the deciding game, but the Euro pair were not able to hold it together for a complete table run. Drago was faced with a touchy 8-ball that he missed badly, allowing Team USA to take a 3-1 lead in the event.
The final match of the day was a "Captains's Choice" singles match. Team Europe sent out Niels Feijen, while Team USA sent Rodney Morris to compete. Morris had complete control of this match as he raced to a 5-0 lead, taking advantage of multiple mistakes by Feijen. A good safety by Feijen in rack six earned him ball-in-hand and he ran out to get a game on the board. but Morris mercifully ended the match at 6-1 in the next game.
The online oddsmakers at Stanjames.com have changed their odds in a big way. Team USA was an 11-4 favorite going into day one, and they are now 20-1 favorites with Team Europe checking in as 7-1 underdogs. The wagers placed overnight should see those odds change again before day two gets underway.
Follow all of the action as it happens at www.mosconicup.com or sign up for the online PPV to watch it all happen.
