BEIJING, Feb 5 (Reuters) – A relentless United States crushed the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) 5-0 on Saturday in a hard-hitting clash that lent a little geopolitical tension to the Beijing Olympics women’s ice hockey tournament.
The victory kept the unbeaten U.S. headed towards a gold medal showdown with North American rivals Canada, who earlier at the Wukesong Sports Centre produced another ruthless performance to pound third-ranked Finland 11-1.
The U.S and Russia contest had a Cold War vibe running in the background with relations between the countries strained over Ukraine, where the West has accused Russian president Vladimir Putin of preparing for a war.
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On the ice, however, the U.S. are the Olympic champions and women’s hockey super power while the ROC have yet to reach the podium and are in Beijing looking for a medal and respect.
The ROC earned a small measure of that through two periods, absorbing an all-out…
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