The Eagles dropped their opening match of the Cape Town 7s to Fiji, 28-14. 

Fiji raced out to a quick 14-0 lead, but the Americans finally settled in and Stephen Tomasin got one back with a few minutes remaining in the half to pull it to 14-7. 

Fiji were already playing a man down when Tomasin dove in for the try, and were reduced to five players when a Fijian tackler accidentally hit Tomasin around the head and neck area as he dotted the ball down. 

Chance Missed

So, opportunity beckoned for the Eagles to get themselves back into the game, and Maceo Brown went high up the ladder to reclaim the ensuing kickoff for the Americans. 

With a two-man advantage, the United States were patient not to force the issue, and it paid off. They swung the ball wide to the left, got a good rumble into the 22 from Danny Barrett, and opened up a huge 3 on 1 overlap to the right. 

But, shockingly, always-accurate Madison Hughes threw a pass way too far in front of Brown, and his outstretched arms couldn't corral the ball, only knock it on. 

Momentum Lost

Fiji then got one of their yellow-carded players back and immediately went the length of the field the other way to make the scores 21-7 at the break. 

The two teams traded tries in the second half, but that wasn't nearly enough for the Eagles. 

The boys will look to regroup before their next match against Japan tomorrow at 6:29 am (ET), before finishing pool play against hosts South Africa at 1:03 pm (ET).