The USA Men’s 7s team is in the Cup Quarterfinals of the Dubai 7s despite a difficult hiccup in pool play.

The Americans won their opener against Portugal and then had a horrible start against France, but somehow pulled close enough to make the ensuing upset over New Zealand count for something.

The Eagles opened against Portugal and did pretty much whatever they wantedf to do.

They scored 30 seconds into the game with Perry Baker getting plenty of room to beat his man and score from long range, and the USA followed that up with a textbook restart win and passing out to Zack Test.

The third try came after a series of phases back and forth across the field, after which is was actually forward Garrett Bender who found the gap and rumbled in. Portugal didn’t get their hands on the ball until 2:25 left in the first half. When they did, they exploited a slow defensive slide by the USA team to score quickly. But, upon receiving the next restart, the Eagles sent Maka Unufe up the wing. His offload was knocked back by the Portuguese defender, but Baker was quickly on the rolling ball and took it in for the score. 

Up 26-7 with two second left in the half, the USA looked to get one more, but couldn’t secure the ball on the restart. Portugal attacked, got a penalty, and looked to be in at the corner, but Test made a brilliant cover tackle to preserve the 19-point lead.

Portugal got that elusive try off the kickoff in the second half, taking their time and exploiting a rather harsh penalty in the ruck against Unufe. 26-14.

Order was restored after that. Portugal knocked on at the restart and from the scrum it was hands out to Carlin Isles and goodnight as he curled around as only he can and raced in from 80 meters out.

Hughes hit the easy conversion to make it 33-14. At the restart, Nate Augspurger, of all people, got the try, Portugal let the ball drop and the halfback got the bounce and a clear run in under the posts.

The Eagles capped it off with After their initial attack was stopped when Brett Thompson held on in the tackle, Thompson redeemed himself after Kevin Swiryn rucked over to regain the ball - the former Arizona All American picked and ran in.

So, 45-14, and it turned out to be a crucial 45. It was an impressive start for the Eagles, and perhaps the more pessimistic fans might have thought they were a bit too porous defensively against a Portugal team that really only saw the ball three times, scored twice, and almost scored a third.

The defensive chickens, then, came home to roost in the USA’s follow-up. France scored the first try and Terry Bourahoua once again burned the Eagles for a try, putting France up 14-0 with a minute left in the first half. But a crucial try from Maka Unufe put the Eagles within a try, and while Damien Cler nudged France ahead 21-7 after halftime, Brett Thompson scored to make it 21-14. Then they won the restart, Unufe attracted some defenders, and out it went to Test, who barreled through three defenders to tie the game up.

Everything seemed set for a stirring comeback, but it was Virimi Vakatawa for France who scored the winner.

So now at 1-1, the USA needed to beat New Zealand, which never happens, but somehow happened on Friday in Dubai.

It took everything they had, and Perry Baker. Baker scored in the first two minutes, and stayed on the foiled throughout the game (a rarity for him) as the USA defense held on tenaciously. Down 12-7 with a minute to go, the Eagles somehow controlled the ball and patiently waited for their moment.

As GRR is fond of saying, when time it up, you aren’t in a rush, as you have all the time in the world until the ball goes dead. With the hooter gone, and with both teams out on their feet, the Eagles got a penalty. Folau Niua tapped and passed to Baker, who wasn’t in the best possible position. But, the Speedstick slipped out of one tackle, cured around the outside, and shook off another tackle to get in for the try.

That made it 12-12, and Madison Hughes had plenty of work to do as he took the conversion kick from jut a couple of meters in from the sidelines. The kick was good, and the Eagles had their first ever win over the All Black 7s. The players rightfully went wild, as they had rescued what could have been a disappointing day with a historic result, caped off by two clutch plays.

The result meant New Zealand was 2-1 with a points differential of +47, while the USA was 2-1 +28. And France, which had beaten Portugal by 35-7, was 2-1 +26. The Eagles just made it through.

“Madison Hughes has been great,” said USA Coach Mike Friday, who said beating New Zealand was. “Against France the little things let us down, but the desire, the spirit’s been there … we’re growing, we’re learning, we’re getting better, but we’re not perfect.”

The USA faces South Africa in the Cup Quarterfinals Saturday at 12:06pm local time, which is 3:06am ET.