Paris, France — The monkey is off Team USA wheelchair rugby’s back. Partially, at least.

The U.S. fell to eventual gold medalist Great Britain in the semifinals of the Tokyo Games. On Sunday, revenge was enacted as Team USA knocked off the Brits 50-43.

“It feels great,” remarked Chuck Aoki, Team USA captain. “I knew the team had this performance in us, and to come out and do it was really spectacular, really proud of the team, this was easily our best game of the tournament so far.”

“We were really coming in there with a chip on our shoulder,” explained Sarah Adam, who finished with 13 tries.

The first quarter was an onslaught of offense on both sides. Across both sides, there were only two failed tries in the entire frame. Both came at the expense of Great Britain. One was a turnover in the backcourt, the second came right at the end when the Brits were trying to drain the clock to prevent another U.S. possession. Team USA had no mistakes offensively in the first, which was good for a 12-11 edge.

The U.S., more specifically Adam, immediately built on that edge to begin the second, securing Team USA’s first multi-try lead. Seconds later, two straight turnovers from Great Britain led to consecutive tries from Aoki, building a 15-11 U.S. advantage. The lead would eventually get up to six, but a run from the Brits increased the tension at the break. Great Britain had four of the final five tries in the second quarter, but Team USA still held a 24-21 edge.

“Hard aggressive defense,” said Adam. “We’re going to make them push the entire way up that court and keep gliding into them, make it tough.”

“It’s a physical sport, but just because it’s a physical sport doesn’t mean we like getting hit,” remarked Aoki. “The more you just hit and attack teams, the more you can sometimes force turnovers.”

Throughout the third quarter, the U.S. never let Great Britain think about clawing closer back. The Brits started the frame with possession and immediately scored. Team USA responded with a try of its own. That pattern repeated for almost the entire quarter. One Great Britain turnover allowed the U.S. to notch consecutive tries and go into the final frame with a 37-33 lead.

That deficit was too much for the Brits to overcome. Team USA rode that momentum through the end of the game, overcoming the reigning gold medalists 50-43. Josh Wheeler, Aoki, and Adam led the U.S. with 45 of its 50 tries, notching 18, 14, and 13 respectively.

One game stands between Team USA and the ultimate goal: a gold medal. In order to accomplish it, the U.S. will have to get another monkey off its back. Team USA matched up with Japan in group play last Friday, and as it sits that is the only blemish for the U.S. in Paris. The Japanese emerged with a 45-42 victory. But much like Sunday, Team USA has an opportunity to get a monkey off its back.

“Most of the turnovers we had against Japan, we caused ourselves from just rushing it,” said Adam. “We know we’ve got some great firing power out there, we just need to trust it.”

“It would mean everything, it would mean the team came together, gelled in a really spectacular way,” expressed Aoki. “We have to rest up, recovery for tomorrow starts right now.”