BLOOMFIELD HILLS, United States (AFP) - The Europeans pulled off a stunning escape when they pulled back from the brink of a crushing Ryder Cup setback by the United States.
Stung by the savage cricitism levelled at them by captain Hal Sutton, the US team had threatened to go on the rampage.
At one time, it looked as if the Americans were going to take all four four-ball matches.
But in a dramatic climax, European rookie Paul Casey pulled off a brilliant victory on the 18th hole to give his side 1 1/2 points to the Americans 2 1/2 from the session.
That made the overall score 8-4 with Europe still in charge.
But early on, the Europeans found themselves on the ropes as the Americans, led by Tiger Woods, attempted to take revenge for Friday's drubbing when Europe took a record-busting five-point lead.
Despite the charge, Europe refused to wilt under the onslaught.
"We let it slip a little bit at the end," admitted Sutton. "I wanted five points today and we are halfway there."
Woods, playing with rookie Chris Riley, quickly grabbed control of their showdown with Darren Clarke and Ian Poulter, making his Cup debut.
Before the match, Sutton has said he was looking for great things from Woods after his humiliation on Friday when he and Phil Mickelson lost both their matches.
"I expect Tiger Woods to play unbelievable," said Sutton.
Woods got the message loud and clear.
Although it was Riley who sank the winning putt as Clarke and Poulter crashed 4 and 3, it was Woods, showing some of the magic that had made him world number one, who had done the damage.
"You know right now we are looking pretty good," said Woods. "We got it going. We made a few birdies early, the Europeans made a couple of mistakes which gave us the edge."
The American duo rushed into a two-hole lead after only two and with Poulter struggling and Clarke missing the putting touch that was so lethal on Friday, there was no doubt who was going to run out victorious.
"We had our chances to get back into the game. We just couldn't quite mount the charge we needed," admitted Clarke.
Backing up Woods was Davis Love, one of the Americas who 'failed' to show up on Friday.
Playing with partner Stewart Cink, they heaped the pressure on European heroes Colin Montgomerie and Padraig Harrington.
Only 24 hours earlier, Montgomerie and Harrington had run over the Dream Team of Woods and Mickelson. But on Saturday morning they found themselves on the rack as an on-fire Love put his team three up after only six holes.
Love, who could not sink a putt on the first day, ran in four birdies in five holes.
Montgomerie and Harrington were reeling under the attack but at the seventh the Scot managed to sink a 14-foot birdie putt to pull one back for Europe and halt the rot.
But it was all too little to late as they fell 3 and 2.
It the rookie pairing of Casey and David Howell that saved the morning for Europe and captain Bernhard Langer.
With the US poised to snatch 3 1/2 points out of the four on offer, the 27-year-old Casey sank a snaking three-footer on the 18th to win the hole after Chad Campbell took three to get up and down from just off the green.
Langer leaped in delight, fully aware of just how big the win was as the players prepared for the afternoon foursomes.
In the opening match, one Langer was banking on to keep the European momentum going, Sergio Garcia and Lee Westwood were locked in a titanic battle with veteran Jay Haas and Chris DiMarco.
The 50-year-old Haas, who was carried by DiMarco on Friday, paid him back in full on Saturday as he pulled of a clutch of key putts to put the heat on Garcia and Westwood.
At one stage, the Americans went two up but the Spaniard and Westwood refused to fold and pulled the score back to snatch a much needed halve.
Several American players had complained Friday that the partisan US crowd were too silent.
There was no silence on Saturday as they roared their approval as America hit back.