Scores level at 8-8 heading to the singles

After an afternoon of close matches and swinging fortunes, Europe's spirited bid to win the Solheim Cup for a first time on US soil remained very much alive at Crooked Stick in Carmel, Indiana, today.

Leading 5-3 overnight, the European had slightly lost the momentum with a

3-1 defeat in the morning foursomes, but they recovered to earn a share of fourballs and the overall score was intriguingly poised at 8-all.

Europe 's hopes of making history now hang on the outcome of the 12 singles.

The bottom line is that 6 points are required to retain the Cup with the home side needing 6.5 to regain it.

On an afternoon to remember, the top three fourballs all came down to the final hole, and the Europeans were a touch unlucky not to walk away with a greater return than the two halved matches and one defeat.

In the top match, there were signs of a great comeback for England 's Trish Johnson and Iben Tinning against the experienced veterans, Beth Daniel and Juli Inkster.

Two down with two to play, Johnson made a winning birdie from eight feet at the 17th and then Tinning set up a great chance at the last when she hit her approach to four feet.

But she missed the birdie chance and they had to settle for a half point.

The second match involving Meg Mallon and Rosie Jones against Sophie Gustafson and Suzann Pettersen was also honours even playing the last and the Swede looked set to snatch a famous victory when she hit her approach to six feet.

But the gritty Jones struck a real blow for the Americans when she holed a monster 30-foot putt, and Gustafson did well to make her pressure effort for the half.

Catrin Nilsmark's decision to pair Laura Davies and Annika Sorenstam, playing together for a first time reaped the profit of a full point as they scored a comfortable 3 and 2 win over Pat Hurst and Christina Kim in the bottom match.

It means that Davies and Sorenstam still remain tied as the Solheim Cups leading points scorers with 20.5 a-piece.

US. takes 3 foursomes matches to draw level with Europe 6-6

(Crooked Stick GC, Carmel . Ind. – September 10, 2005) -- Carin Koch and Sophie Gustafson did their best to boost Europe's dream of winning the Solheim Cup for a first time on US soil, but it was the Americans that on three of the four points in the second day foursomes to level the score 6-all at Crooked Stick in Carmel, Indiana, today.

Three of the European players who were unbeaten on day one - Laura Davies, Annika Sorenstam and Catriona Matthew - saw their halos slip a little.

Perhaps the most crucial defeat for the defending champions came on the final green in the bottom match involving world No.1 Sorenstam and Scotland 's so cool Matthew in the bottom tie.

The American pair of Pat Hurst and Michele Redman was three down after just five holes, but then hit back and eventually claimed the tie on the final green.

It was birdies at the sixth, ninth and tenth to claw back the early deficit, and another at the par four 14th earned a lead that they never lost.

Redman had replaced Cristie Kerr, who was suffering from a stiff neck but was fit enough to return for the afternoon fourballs, but she proved to be a great stand-in for the American No.1.

It was Redman's magnificent approach to four feet at the 14th and a crucial par-saving 15-foot putt for a par at the short 17th that proved crucial. Revenge was sweet for a first day loss to Sorenstam and Suzann Pettersen.

In the top match, the super-charged Christina Kim - stirring up the crowd with her rah-rah antics - joined fellow-rookie Natalie Gulbis in a 3 and 2 win over European novices Ludivine Kreutz and Gwladys Nocera.

Making their Solheim debuts, the all-French paring lost three holes from the second and, while they steadied the ship, they were always fighting a losing battle.

Juli Inkster, the seven-time major winner, and 19-year-old Paula Creamer then put another red point on the board with an inspired win over Davies, who had been in such great form on day one, and Maria Hjorth.

Europe 's solitary point came from Gustafson and Koch in the third match.

Never behind, the two Swedes comfortably beat Diaz and Wendy Ward by 5 and 3.

The score line left the match finely poised, and confirmed that it would all come down to the 12 singles tomorrow. Europe, aiming to win in America for the first time, need to get 14 points to retain the Cup while the home side need 14.5 to get it back.

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