IT was the kind of uphill struggle that would’ve had Sherpa Tenzing beating a wheezing retreat to base camp and, in the end, the task proved too great for a spirited Team Europe as the USA won the Solheim Cup here in Des Moines by a 16 ½ - 11 ½ margin.

A miracle, a Lazarus-like recovery, an epic salvage operation? You name it, Europe required it.

Five points behind heading into the final day singles, Annika Sorenstam’s side needed to conjure the biggest comeback in the event’s 27 year history.

They couldn’t manage that but, my goodness, they gave it a good go on an engaging, inspiring day that showcased the women’s game quite wonderfully.

Sorenstam had maintained her upbeat sense of defiant optimism. “Hope is the last thing that will leave us,” she said. “It will be like getting into a boxing ring with an opponent. Just punch 'em.”

Europe were already on the ropes but they certainly came out fighting. The US packed plenty of punch themselves and nobody dished it out quite like Lexi Thompson in a flabbergasting singles shoot-out with Anna Nordqvist that will remain seared on the memory.

Thompson, the world No 2, had started the top tie chaotically. She missed a tiddler on the first, shanked a wedge on the second and swiftly found herself four down after four.

In stark contrast to Thompson, Nordqvist was calm, composed and clinical. The Swede was still four-up at the turn but Thompson upped the ante in mesmerising fashion as a compelling, ding dong duel unravelled.

Having birdied the 10th and 11th, she holed out from just over 100 yards for an eagle three on the 13th as she embarked on a rousing run that saw her cover seven holes in eight-under and turn a sizeable deficit into a one hole lead through 16.

Thompson should have put her shell-shocked opponent to the sword on the 17th but missed a short one to win. Nordqvist made the most of her reprieve and a superb 8-iron to gimme distance on the last gave her a half point.

A share of the honours was a fitting finale to an epic, absorbing tussle “It was the weirdest round ever," said Thompson.

The morale-boosting significance of that half point was not lost on Juli Inkster, the US captain. “It felt like six points,” she said.

Europe kept on battling. The brilliant 21-year-old rookie, Georgia Hall, took the vastly experienced Paula Creamer all the way to the 18th but let a half point slip from her grasp with a bogey on the last in a one hole defeat which inched the US nearer the line.

Catriona Matthew, meanwhile, was simply terrific as the 47-year-old underlined her robust competitive longevity with a rallying one hole win over Stacy Lewis.

Three down after five, this great Scot, who was drafted into the team just two days before affairs started after Suzann Pettersen withdrew with injury, took her points tally for the week to three from four matches with a late push.

"I just held in there and hoped my time would come," said Matthew.

The USA's time had almost come too, though. Angel Yin's half point against Karine Icher ensured they retained the cup while a one hole win for Lizette Salas over Jodi Ewart Shadoff confirmed they'd win it outright for the second time in a row.

"We got outplayed but I’m so proud of how they fought," said Sorenstam. “It's not easy coming out here on a Sunday with the team so far behind.”

Inkster, who led the US to a comeback victory in Germany two years ago, added: “The Europeans fought hard today. They made it really close. I really haven't been nervous all week. But today I was a little bit nervous.”

Des Moines had put on a fine show. It's now over to Gleneagles in 2019.