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Christina Kim and Natalie Gulbis eased to a 4&2 win over French Solheim Cup rookies Ludivine Kreutz and Gwaldys Nocera to land the first blow.

Paula Creamer and Juli Inkster also won 3&2 over Laura Davies and Maria Hjorth.

Swedes Sophie Gustafson and Carin Koch won 5&3 to avoid a clean sweep but Annika Sorenstam and Catriona Matthew went down in the last group.

Sorenstam and Scotland's Matthew were one down on the 18th tee after being three up after five against Michele Redman, a late replacement for the injured Cristie Kerr, and Pat Hurst.

But Sweden's Sorenstam, the world number one, drove into the water and the ensuing bogey handed the Americans the match two up to level the overall score.

European captain Nilsmark (left) consoles Annika Sorenstam

America began the day trailing 5-3 after Europe clinched the opening foursomes 3-1 and backed up a remarkable turnaround with a 2-2 draw in Friday's fourballs.

But in the first group out, the exhuberant Kim and pin-up girl Gulbis took advantage of the French pair's first outing to begin the fightback.

They raced to three up after four holes and, despite a European birdie at the sixth, reached four up after eight.

From then on the Americans maintained at least a two-hole advantage and closed out the victory on 16 .

"We did what we needed to do," said the boisterous Kim, 21, playing in her first Solheim Cup.

"And the crowd was great today, so much better than yesterday."

Creamer, 19, and Inkster, 45, handed England's Davies her first defeat of this year's competition.

The Americans won the second and the fifth before Davies, playing with Sweden's Hjorth, won a hole back at the seventh.

Sweden's Carin Koch won her foursomes with Sophie Gustafson

America won the eighth but a European eagle at nine signalled one down again.

USA edged to three up by the 11th but birdies at 13 and 14 gave Europe hope before the home side won the next two holes to seal the win.

Swedish pair Gustafson and Koch spared Europe's blushes with their comfortable win over Wendy Ward and the pregnant Laura Diaz.

The sides traded blows during the early holes but Gustafson and Koch were never headed and reached the turn two up.

They stretched the lead to five up after 12 with four straight wins.

Diaz and Ward won the short 13th with a par but a European birdie on the 15th closed out a convincing win.

Europe, aiming to win in America for the first time, need 14 points to retain the trophy while the USA need 14� to win it back.