The Lobos snatched their qualification in stoppage time by equalizing through Samuel Marques (16-16) to finish top of the tournament in goal average.
In the final of the qualifying tournament, this Friday in Dubai, the Portugal of French coach Patrice Lagisquet snatched the draw, 16-16, in stoppage time thanks to a penalty from Samuel Marques, the scrum half of the US Carcassonne.
This parity score qualifies the Lusitanians, who finished first in this four-team tournament in goal average after largely beating Hong Kong (42-14) then Kenya (85-0). A few seconds earlier, a drop from almost 40 meters from Portela had been repelled by the left post, raising fears of an elimination. Before the immense joy at the end of the suspense…
Portugal, 20e and last qualifier, is poured into Pool C, along with Wales, Australia, Fiji and Georgia. It is only the second time that the Wolves have qualified for the final phase of the World Cup, after that of 2007, already in France.
The Portuguese players, many of whom play in France in Pro D2, were outsiders against the Americans, also undefeated before this meeting, and who had participated in all the World Cups except that of 1995 in South Africa .
It is a heavy disappointment for the United States, favorites of this tournament and who had already missed a chance to qualify this summer by failing in the play-off against Chile, which won its first participation in the World Cup.
