Georgia edge USA in Atlanta

Georgia claimed a 21-17 win over USA in Atlanta on Saturday as the Eagles go into their 2019 World Cup qualifiers on a negative note.

USA take on Canada on June 24 in Hamilton, Ontario, and on July 1 in San Diego, California, as they look to book a spot in the tournament.

Merab Kvirikashvili opened the scoring for Georgia with a try before the kickers traded blows, making it 11-3 to the Lelos on 25 minutes.

Georgia went in 18-3 ahead thanks to a penalty try but when Nate Augspurger crossed for the US, suddenly it was 21-10 to the visitors.

Matt Jensen made it a four-point game late on but Georgia managed to hold on as they followed up last week's win over Canada in style.

The scorers:

For USA:
Tries:  Augspurger, Jensen
Cons:  MacGinty 2
Pen:  MacGinty

For Georgia:
Tries:  Kvirikashvili, Penalty Try
Pens:  Kvirikashvili 3

USA:  15 Mike Te'o, 14 Matai Leuta, 13 Bryce Campbell, 12 AJ MacGinty, 11 Nate Augspurger, 10 Will Magie, 9 Shaun Davies, 8 Cam Dolan, 7 Tony Lamborn, 6 Todd Clever (c), 5 Ben Landry, 4 Nate Brakeley, 3 Chris Baumann, 2 James Hilterbrand, 1 Tony Purpura
Replacements:  16 Peter Malcolm, 17 Ben Tarr, 18 Dino Waldren, 19 Matthew Jensen, 20 Andrew Durutalo, 21 Ben Cima, 22 Marcel Brache, 23 Ryan Matyas

Georgia:  15 Merab Kvirikashvili, 14 Giorgi Koshadze, 13 Davit Katcharava, 12 Merab Sharkadze (c), 11 Sandro Todua, 10 Lasha Khmaladze, 9 Vasil Lobzhanidze, 8 Beka Bitsadze, 7 Vito Kolelishvili, 6 Lasha Lomidze, 5 Kote Mikautadze, 4 Giorgi Nemsadze, 3 Levan Chilachava, 2 Jaba Bregvadze, 1 Mikheil Nariashvili
Replacements:  16 Shalva Mamukashvili, 17 Tornike Mataradze, 18 Soso Bekoshvili, 19 Giorgi Chkhaidze, 20 Otar Giorgadze, 21 Giorgi Begadze, 22 Lasha Malaghuradze, 23 Giorgi Tsutskiridze

Referee:  Federico Anselmi (Argentina)
Assistant Referees:  Luke Pearce (England), Chris Assmus (Canada)
TMO:  Neil Paterson (Scotland)