USA marked their Rugby League World Cup debut with victory as they edged an entertaining Group D encounter 32-20 against the Cook Islands in Bristol.
Tries inside the final 10 minutes from Mark Offerdahl and Craig Priestly settled a see-saw battle at the Memorial Stadium, with Bureta Faraimo, Matt Petersen, Joseph Paulo and Tui Samoa also crossing, while Paulo contributed eight points with the boot.
Brad Takairangi, Drury Low, Lulia Lulia and Dominique Peyroux scored tries for the Cook Islands, with Jordan Rapana kicking four points.
The USA's tournament goal had been to "shock the world" after their pre-tournament win over France, and they will head into their weekend meeting with Wales buoyed by a fine performance inspired by classy stand-off Paulo.
The evening had not started promisingly for the Tomahawks after Isaac John's boot had twice caused problems with a high ball, with Takairangi dotted down on the second occasion and Rapana adding the extras.
However, the USA settled quickly and Priestly's perfectly-executed 40-20 laid the platform for the half-back to put wing Faraimo over in the corner. The conversion was off target but when the wind again played havoc with the high ball they had their second try, as Petersen went in after skipper Paulo had gathered in the ball.
Paulo further extended their lead with a 27th minute penalty after forcing repeat sets with an astute kick, and they looked in control. However, their opponents found some fluency, and their second try, before the break.
Centre Keith Lulia made a forceful midfield break to set up a position from which full-back Low cut through to level matters.
Parity only lasted 55 seconds of the second half. Takairangi dallied over his kick on the last tackle and Paulo charged down before gathering and cantering over from 30 metres, although the Parramatta stand-off could not add the testing touchline conversion.
The see-saw nature of the contest continued as Lulia Lulia crossed out wide after sharp work from Low, and the sides were level again.
Wigan's Anthony Gelling knocked on short of the line, and the failure to take the chance proved costly as the Americans once again hit the front, Samoa seizing on a loose pass from Paulo to skip past two tackles and score
Paulo added the conversion with the aid of the post but the response was immediate as Peyroux acrobatically pounced on a dropping ball from John's high ball to the right-hand side to dot down with Rapana holding his nerve from the tee to put the game back in the balance.
But Offerdahl struck with nine minutes remaining, bursting on to Paulo's delayed pass. Priestly then gathered a towering Paulo up and under to ground the clinching try, with Paulo having the final word with a late penalty.
