United States show their fighting spirit

On Friday, Europe began their trophy defence by taking an unlikely 5-3 lead, snatching the opening foursomes 3-1 when at one point they looked like trailing by a similar margin and staging another comeback to share the afternoon fourballs 2-2.

But yesterday morning, the Americans displayed much greater fortitude when holding a lead, claiming two of the first three foursomes to be decided and giving themselves an excellent chance of lunching on even terms.

In the opening match, featuring four Solheim Cup debutants, Christina Kim, 21, and Natalie Gulbis, 22, posted an impressive 4&2 victory over the French pair, Gwladys Nocera and Ludivine Kreutz, who had sat out Friday's play and can have been excused for feeling somewhat rusty.

The second foursomes saw the Americans level the match at 5-5 with a stunning six-under-par showing from six-times Major winner Juli Inkster and the 19-year-old rookie Paula Creamer en route to a 3&2 win against Britain's Laura Davies, Europe's outstanding player on day one, and Sweden's Maria Hjorth.

But Europe got their noses in front again when the all-Swedish combination of Sophhie Gustafson and Carin Koch dismissed Laura Diaz and Wendy Ward 5&3 with a near flawless, four-under-par display. Remarkably, it was 34-year-old the elegant, unruffled Koch's ninth victory in her 14th Solheim Cup rubber.

In the bottom foursomes, the world No 1 Annika Sorenstam and Catriona Matthew were engaged in a tense battle with the experienced Michele Redman and Pat Hurst. After taking a three-hole lead after five holes, the Europeans slightly lost their way as the Americans posted five birdies in 10 holes from the sixth, and found themselves one down playing the 18th.

The American revival which materialised yesterday morning had initially been threatened on Friday afternoon when the home side claimed the first two fourballs before an inspired Davies, six-under-par for 15 holes, and her partner, Norway's Suzann Pettersen, stemmed the tide with a 4&3 trouncing of 45-year-old Inkster and Creamer, the youngest player on either side.

The Swedish-Scottish partnership of Sorenstam and Matthew then eked out a 2&1 win over Hurst and Ward to give Europe a crucial edge going into the second day.

Rosie Jones birdied three of the first four holes in the top fourball as she and Meg Mallon beat Hjorth and Iben Tinning, who is four months pregnant, 3&2. Cristie Kerr, who sat out yesterday's foursomes with a sore neck, and Gulbis followed up by shading Karen Stupples and Gustafson 2&1.

It was only the second time in nine Solheim Cups that Europe had led after day one, hence the buoyant mood of their captain Catrin Nilsmark.

"Any time you're in front is a great day," said the Swede. "It was a fantastic team effort, but even when we were down in three of the foursomes I knew that anything could happen on the tough, finishing holes. The back nine is a lot harder and we have so many long hitters which is definitely an advantage."

In contrast, the US captain Nancy Lopez struggled to hide her disappointment. "It was a very tough morning and even when we were ahead I knew it wasn't a done deal. I never celebrate early. You've got to bury them, finish them off. But sometimes you relax when you have a big lead - they have to learn from that. So many Europeans are playing well. Laura Davies is playing great and it's hard when you run into a steamroller."