Europe claimed a 5-3 lead after the first two sessions of the 40th Ryder Cup, despite their star trio of Rory McIlroy, Sergio Garcia and Ian Poulter contributing just half a point.
But that half a point could be worth far more to the final outcome given the miraculous way it was achieved on a rollercoaster day at Gleneagles.
In the morning fourballs, Poulter suffered the biggest defeat of his Ryder Cup career, and first in eight matches, with a 5&4 loss alongside Scotland's Stephen Gallacher to rookie pair Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed, while McIlroy and Garcia lost on the 18th to Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley.
European captain Paul McGinley kept faith with his top-ranked duo in the foursomes and they looked set for another defeat at two down with two to play against Rickie Fowler and Jimmy Walker.
However, world number one McIlroy then holed from 35 feet for a birdie on the 17th and Garcia smashed a brilliant approach from the rough onto the par-five 18th to set up another to strike a major psychological blow for the home side.
Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson had already secured their second win of the day, beating Hunter Mahan and Zach Johnson 2&1, while Lee Westwood and Jamie Donaldson shrugged off missing the morning session to beat Jim Furyk and Matt Kuchar on the 18th.
And with Graeme McDowell and rookie Victor Dubuisson then seeing off the previously unbeaten Mickelson and Bradley 3&2, Europe had the early edge in their quest for an eighth win in the last 10 contests.
Speaking about the dramatic finish, McIlroy said: “We needed it, we really did. We were making life difficult for ourselves out there. I don’t think either of us was playing from the fairways very much.
"We just wanted to ask them a question and get them going and we were able to do that. And Sergio had the shot of the day at the last. It was big, and at least we got something out of the day. We played two really tough matches and we have half a point to show for it."
Garcia added: "We knew we weren't playing good. We fought as hard as we could. Half a point is just huge."
McGinley echoed that sentiment, adding: "That was probably as good as a win, to come back from where they were."
Fourball results (Europe 1.5 USA 2.5)
Rose/Stenson beat Bubba Watson/Webb Simpson (5&4)
Bjorn/Kaymer halved with Fowler/Walker
Gallacher/Poulter lost to Spieth/Reed (5&4)
Garcia/McIlroy lost to Bradley/Mickelson (1 up)
Foursomes (Europe 3.5 USA 0.5)
Donaldson/Westwood beat Furyk/Kuchar (2up)
Rose/Stenson bt Mahan/Johnson (2&1)
McIlroy/Garcia halved with Walker/Fowler
Dubuisson/McDowell bt Mickelson/Bradley (3&2)
After Day 1: EUROPE 5 USA 3
Saturday morning fourball pairings
7.35am: Rose/Stenson v Watson/Kuchar
7.50am: Donaldson/Westwood v Furyk/Mahan
8.05am: Bjorn/Kaymer v Spieth/Reed
8.20am: Poulter/McIlroy v Walker/Fowler
