The Portuguese snatched the draw, 16-16, in stoppage time, to qualify for the 2023 World Cup.
Coached by former French international Patrice Lagisquet, the Portuguese scored the first try of the game on a good first-hand action concluded by Béziers winger Raffaele Storti (8th). But they failed to take the lead, the Americans staying in contact through the boot of AJ MacGinty.
Dominating in the scrum and in the mauls, the powerful Americans came back in front thanks to a hard try from hooker Kapeli Pifeleti (16-13 in the 59th minute).
The Portuguese finally managed to snatch the draw synonymous with qualification thanks to a penalty after the siren of scrum half Samuel Marques (80 + 2nd), after missing the mark on a drop which hit the right post a few seconds earlier .
