Scotland once again scored five second-half tries as they came from behind to beat the USA 39-16 in Leeds.
After being down 13-6 at half-time thanks to a try from Titi Lamositele and eight points from the boot of Alan MacGinty, Scotland fought back in an explosive second half display.
They put an error filled half behind them as tries from Tim Visser, Sean Maitland and WP Nel set Scotland on their way before Matt Scott and Duncan Weir completed the turnaround for Vern Cotter’s team.
After scoring five tries in the second-half to see off Japan in Gloucester, this was the second time in four days that Scotland achieved this feat and now they sit top of Pool B with maximum points.
Their next assignment is sure to be their toughest yet when they take on South Africa in Newcastle on Saturday, while the USA take on the Springboks on the 7th October.
In this encounter, the USA started strongly and were punishing Scotland’s poor handling and mistakes in a disjointed first period for Vern Cotter’s men.
MacGinty and Man of the Match Stuart Hogg exchanged penalties early on, but the Eagles were performing well at the scrum as Scotland got off to a shaky start.
Hogg settled things down with another penalty on 18 minutes to make it 6-3, but the Scots were then behind moments later as USA were the first to cross.
After great work by hooker Phillip Theil to force his side to the line, it was finished off by Saracens’ young prop Lamositele and converted by MacGinty for 10-6.
Scotland then had a golden chance to hit back immediately when Hogg produced a great step to break away, but his pass to Visser out wide wasn’t the greatest and if it had been accurate, then it almost certainly would’ve been a try.
USA were making life tough and when MacGinty pinged over a penalty on the stroke of half-time, Scotland had it all to do.
After running in five tries against Japan in the second period earlier in the week, the USA had to be wary of Scotland’s threat and after just two minutes of the second-half, Scotland had already touched down as Visser flew into the corner.
Everything seemed different about Scotland. They were solid at the scrum and suddenly they had got their game together as their mistakes from the first half seemed a distant memory.
The floodgates then opened for Scotland as Finn Russell produced a lovely show and go before offloading to winger Maitland who strolled in under the posts.
With the score now at 18-13, MacGinty nailed a penalty for the United States, but that two point deficit lasted just four minutes as the impressive substitute WP Nel barged his way over by the posts with replacement and Scotland Captain Greig Laidlaw slotting the conversion.
The major negative of the afternoon for Cotter’s side was the injury to Finn Russell who was helped off the field midway through the second half and they will be hoping he is fit in time to face South Africa.
But that didn’t deter Scotland from claiming a bonus point as Scott ran a great line to score before Weir crossed from close range right at the death to secure Scotland’s second win of this World Cup.