Top seed the United States lost to Ukraine 45-39 in the Olympic women's sabre team event, failing to enter the gold medal match on Thursday.

Boasting of the top three finishers in the individual event Mariel Zagunis, Sada Jacobson and Rebecca Ward, the top-ranked United States stopped at the semifinal.

"I felt nervous at the beginning of the match," Zagunis said, adding that the American fencers didn't catch up with the pace of the match.

Ukraine, the winning team of Olga Kharlan, Halyna Pundyk and Olena Khomrova, will face China in the final bout as Tan Xue, Bao Yingying and Ni Hong beat France 45-38 in another semifinal.

(Xinhua News Agency August 14, 2008)