FUESSEN, Germany (AP) - A Minnesota-based men's curling team has qualified for the Sochi Olympics.

The United States came through with an 8-5 playoff victory over the Czech Republic on Sunday.

The Americans, skipped by John Shuster of Duluth, seized the advantage in the eighth end by scoring five points for a 7-3 lead.

The Czechs pulled two back in the ninth, but Shuster's team of third Jeff Isaacson, second Jared Zezel and lead John Landsteiner ended with another point to secure the last Olympic berth on offer.

The U.S. won its final five games at the World Curling Federation's qualification event in Germany and will now be nominated to the U.S. Olympic team pending approval by the United States Olympic Committee.

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