Was Hull-Woad pairing right call as Europe & US end level with singles to play?

Should Europe fail to reach the 14½ points they require to win the Solheim Cup on Sunday, questions will surely be asked of captain Anna Nordqvist's faith in Charley Hull and Lottie Woad as a pairing.

Europe's misfiring star pair were beaten in both of Saturday's sessions and have contributed just half a point from four matches to the scoreline of 8-8 as the contest heads into Sunday's decisive 12 singles matches.

But while there were few plaudits for the English duo, the irrepressible Swedish pairing of Maja Stark and Linn Grant led the charge for Nordqvist's team at Bernardus Golf Club in the Netherlands.

Having defeated the unbeaten US partnership of world number one Nelly Korda and Allisen Corpuz 3&2 in the morning foursomes, Stark and Grant fought back in wonderful fashion to triumph 2&1 against Megan Khang and the previously undefeated Lauren Coughlin in the afternoon fourballs.

Starting day two level at 2-2, the Swede's opening point, against a Korda and Corpuz pairing that had won all five of their previous matches together, set the tone for Europe to win three points.

Mimi Rhodes and Nastasia Nadaud became the first rookie duo to win two matches in one edition of the biggest team competition in women's golf, while Leona Maguire and Esther Henseleit also delivered a point as Europe led 7-5.

Stark and Grant were sent out in the afternoon and delivered a third point of the week to maintain their 100% record at this year's event.

It was Khang's first loss for six matches and it delivered a wonderful boost to Nordqvist's team as the US challenge warmed up in the afternoon and threatened to overturn Europe's advantage.

However, Nordqvist's decision to persist with Hull and Woad will surely be placed under further scrutiny given the way events unfolded.

The pair, Europe's highest ranked players, had asked to play together this week.

But after they were summarily thrashed by Alison Lee and Coughlin in the foursomes – a Solheim Cup record equalling 6&5 defeat – the experiment of pairing the world number seven and eight together looked to have run its course.

Yet when Hull and Woad emerged together again to face Yealimi Noh and Andrea Lee, to almost universal surprise, Europe's captain defended her decision.

"I don't think people understand - these are the best players in the world," said a defiant Nordqvist.

"Lottie, herself, made six birdies in the afternoon [yesterday]. They are playing solid."

Unfortunately solid was not enough to prevail in the fourballs, particularly with Noh delivering a performance that included five birdies and an eagle on the front nine.

A Woad birdie on the 17th sent the match down the last with the English pair needing to win the hole to salvage half a point.

But for the second day running, Hull found water off the tee to immediately put pressure on Woad and Noh and Lee held on for the win.

And the day ended with a huge momentum swing for the US.

Jennifer Kupcho holed a monster 91-foot putt on the 17th and followed it by dispatching another lengthy putt on the final hole to steal an unlikely point from the grasp of Carlota Ciganda and Celine Boutier who had been one up with four to play.

Just as Ciganda pilfered a half point in Friday's final match to give Europe the impetus coming into Saturday, so Kupcho's point will do likewise for the US, who need to reach 14 points on Sunday to retain the trophy.