The USA Men are in the semifinals of the USA 7s in Las Vegas after a resurgent performance by on Maka Unufe.

Photos David Barpal.

The Eagles went into the day 2-0 after big wins over Samoa and Chile. Their day began with the final pool game against England, a game in which they were the better team for about 13 minutes. Teamwork put Martin Iosefo through for one try, and Perry Baker put in a classic long-range effort for another. Up 12-0, the Eagles gave up a try and then worked it back and forth before setting up Ben Pinkelman. The former Colorado State star had work to do but powered through the England tacklers for a try and a 17-5 lead.

But England wasn’t done. With time winding down they torched the Eagles for two tries and tied the game 17-17. There was one more play to go, and the tie would have meant the USA had won the pool, but they couldn’t finish it off. Gaps in the defense and perhaps a little fatigue let England Tom Bowen race down the sideline for an improbably 24-17 England win.

The result stung, but it didn’t really change what the Americans needed to do next. Perhaps good news was that Argentina had upset New Zealand, and so it would be the Pumas who faced the Eagles in the quarterfinals.

In that game, Argentina dominated. They got a break when a Danny Barrett interception - a sure try - was called, and two first-half scored put th Pumas up 14-0.

Another try in the second half made it 19-0 with five minutes to go.

That’s when Unufe went to work. Not used much of late, Unufe was put in the spell Perry Baker on the wing. From the restart after Argentina’s third try, Stephen Tomasin found the ball and surged through some tacklers to get his team going forward. Then it was a quick recycle and quick hands out to Unufe, and the former United (Utah) HS start did the rest, curving around behind the posts.

After the restart, an excellent cover tackle by Pinkelman forced a USA lineout. The ball was quickly sent out to Unufe, now working with Baker. Unufe used Baker as a decoy and took the gap he’d created. Madison Hughes hit the conversion from the touchline and it was 14-19.

Then the Eagles stole an Argentina lineout, and this time when Unufe got the pass he had to juggle it a bit. Somehow he held on, and at the same time sidestepped a tackler. The next defender was there, but Unufe spun a perfect pass for Baker, who cut back to go 50 meters. Hughes converted, and the USA led 21-19.

There was one more chance for Argentina, and they played a minute past the hooter, but eventually the Eagles defense forced a penalty, and that was it.

So Sunday will be the Cup Semifinals for the United States, where they will play a powerful South Africa team. But more importantly, the home crowd got to see their players play some inspirational rugby.