Team USA Advances to Wheelchair Rugby Gold Medal Game set for Aug. 29

Team USA’s wheelchair rugby team edged out Australia, 49-42, in the semifinals on Saturday at the Yoyogi National Stadium to advance to the championship match. The gold medal game is set for Sunday, Aug. 29 at 6 p.m. JST local time. Team USA has graced the podium in every Paralympic Games which the sport was contested and will continue this tradition as they vie for their first Paralympic championship win since Beijing 2008.

Three-time Paralympian Chuck Aoki led with 27

tries as the U.S. recorded 49 to Australia’s 42. The U.S. held a 13-11 advantage at the end of the first period and managed to hold onto that lead in a tightly contested battle as the Aussies gave up 10 turnovers to the U.S.’s three. Team USA owned a 45-37 lead with under five minutes remaining and withstood an aggressive rally from the Australian’s to secure the win. 

The team’s victory avenged their heartbreaking double-overtime loss to Australia in Rio 2016 when they brought home a silver medal. Team USA will face off against Great Britain, who will be making their first appearance in the championship game, in an anticipated rematch after the Americans posted a thrilling 50-48 victory during pool play. Coming out of group B, the USA also defeated New Zealand (63-35) and Canada (58-54) on their Paralympic journey.