USA men book semi-final spot

Todd Rogers and Phil Dalhausser eat Eric Koreng and David Klemperer 21-13, 25-23 after the Germans were contentiously penalised a point for delaying the game in the second set.

Todd Rogers, left, celebrates with his teammate Philip Dalhausser after their victory over Germany's David Klemperer and Eric Koreng in the men's quarter-final beach volleyball

BEIJING // Top-ranked Todd Rogers and Phil Dalhausser of the USA beat Eric Koreng and David Klemperer 21-13, 25-23 today in the quarter-finals of the beach volleyball competition after the Germans were contentiously penalised a point for delaying the game in the second set. The Germans had just lost the first set without much of a struggle and blown a 6-2 lead in the second when out came the red card. Koreng was booked for delay of game - a one-point penalty - after arguing a call that allowed the Americans to tie the second set. That gave Dalhausser and Rogers a 9-8 lead before they went on to win the set by two points and earn a spot in the final four. "I didn't like it," Rogers said. "In a situation like this, a heated contest ... it's just not the right thing." Although he was the beneficiary, no one seemed more upset about it than Rogers, who ambled over to referee Richard Casutt's net-side platform, shaking his head. "I said, 'I thought that's a little quick,'" Rogers said. "Just a little quick on the draw." Koreng had gone to the referee to claim that Dalhausser had reached over the net to steal away a set on the German side. He drew a yellow card, and then a few seconds later Casutt raised the red card that added a point for the Americans. "They were a little frustrated with themselves, and they were taking it out on the ref," Rogers said. The Americans will play on Wednesday against surprise semi-finalist Georgia, who beat the fifth-seeded Netherlands in straight sets. After winning 21-19, 21-19, Jorge Terceiro leapt over the fence surrounding the court and bounded through the stands to the top of the stadium, where he stood under the Georgian flag with his arms raised above his head like Rocky on the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. "I remember this 'Rocky,'" said Terceiro, who like partner Renato Gomes is a native Brazilian who obtained a new passport so they could compete in the Olympics. "I said to myself, 'If I win this match, I go meet my flag.'" The victory by the 15th-seeded Georgians means Dalhausser and Rogers can advance to the championship game without playing a team in the medal round seeded better than eighth. Terceiro and Gomes have never beaten the Americans. The other team from the USA, Jake Gibb and Sean Rosenthal, plays Brazil later today.

*AP