SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 25 (UPI) -- Oracle Team USA completed an improbable comeback Wednesday, beating Emirates New Zealand in a decisive 19th race to take the 34th America's Cup.
On the verge of elimination for seven straight races after falling behind 8-1 last week in the first-to-9 regatta, defending champion Team USA stormed back with wins in each of the contests, including two Tuesday to set up a winner-take-all event on San Francisco Bay.
The Americans then retained the Cup with a 44-second triumph in Race 19 -- an even more impressive feat considering two of their victories didn't count against the total due to penalties imposed before the regatta.
Team USA used the stirring rally to hold onto the crown claimed in 2010 with a victory over the Swiss team Alinghi.
That was the Americans' first win since 1992.
