Hooker Joe Taufete’e scored tries either side of halftime while flyhalf A.J. MacGinty added 12 points with the boot to help the United States beat Scotland for the first time, 30-29 in Houston on Saturday.
Loose forward Hanco Germishuys also scored a second-half try as the Americans overturned a 19-6 deficit, their their first win against Scotland in seven tests.
Germishuy’s try had given the Eagles an eight-point lead with 20 minutes still to play, but they held on until after the fulltime siren when Dougie Fife scored Scotland’s fourth try.
Blair Kinghorn and George Turner had both scored first half tries for the visitors, while they were also given a penalty try to give them a comfortable 19-6 lead with halftime approaching.
However Taufete’e scored his first try less than two minutes later to give his side some momentum they continued after the break with another five-pointer. MacGinty’s third penalty in the 47th minute gave the home side the lead for the first time, which they would never relinquish.
The U.S. face Canada next week, while Scotland travel to Argentina to face the Pumas.