Canada's Dunstone beats Italy to set up semifinal clash with Scotland at men's curling worlds

Canada's Matt Dunstone defeated Italy's Stefano Spiller 9-7 in a qualification game Friday at the men's curling world championship.

Dunstone, who was down one point but had hammer in the 10th end, made a double-takeout to score three points for the victory.

Canada will play Scotland's Ross Whyte in the semifinal later in the day at the Ice Sheet in Ogden, Utah.

Spiller was heavy on a freeze attempt with his final throw. He was filling in at this event for veteran skip Joel Retornaz, who declined to play at the world championship.

After an opening blank, Dunstone's Winnipeg-based team of Colton Lott, E.J. Harnden and Ryan Harnden were forced to draw for a single in the second end.

Italy took advantage of a Dunstone miss in the third end to make a tapback for three points. Each team forced the other to singles before the fifth-end break.

Dunstone made a challenging in-off for a pair in the sixth end rather than an easier runback for a single. Italy later regained the lead in the ninth end with a single.

Sweden's Niklas Edin earned the other direct berth to the final four. He'll play the winner of the other qualification game between Switzerland's Marco Hoesli and American John Shuster.

Medal games were scheduled for Saturday.