US overcome Russia on penalties in classic ice hockey clash at Sochi Olympics

The United States has narrowly overcome hosts Russia in a dramatic shootout during their ice hockey clash at the ongoing Winter Olympics in Sochi, winning 3-2 on penalties in front of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

In a highly charged atmosphere at the Bolshoy Ice Dome hockey arena, the USA narrowly overcame the hosts in a dramatic preliminary round encounter that went to eight ends after they could not be separated in 65 minutes of normal time and overtime.

According to The Guardian, following a 2-2 draw, although a goal from Russian Fedor Tyutin would have taken the hosts 3-2 up in the game, however, Russia was disallowed by a controversial decision by the referee because the net had slipped its moorings

Russian forward Alex Ovechkin insisted that the goaltender, Jonathan Quick, had intentionally dislodged it and should have been given a two-minute penalty.

Russia has not won an Olympic title since the end of the Soviet era and as such Putin called on Russian players plying their trade in the National Hockey League (NHL) to come home and play on the larger ice sheets of the European game, the report added.