Japan have become the first side in Rugby World Cup history to win three of their pool-phase fixtures and still exit the competition after seeing off USA 28-18 at the Kingsholm Stadium.
The Brave Blossoms have provided some of the finest moments of the tournament, but their fate had already been decided following results elsewhere this weekend.
© Getty Images
It took the United States just a couple of minutes to register their first points of the contest, as Alan MacGinty found the sticks from an early pen after the opposition failed to roll away from the tackle.
Japan responded in superb fashion, though, breaking through Yoshikazu Fujita before some solid handling allowed the Far East nation to string together a sweeping move which culminated in Kotaro Matsushima making a breakthrough.
There was a special moment for Ayumu Goromaru from the follow-up, with his successful kick from the conversion taking him to the 700-point mark in Test rugby.
For large parts of the opening quarter of the match events on the field failed to match those off it, with both teams being heavily supported at the home of Gloucester Rugby.
USA used this boisterous backing to their advantage shortly before the half-hour mark courtesy of Takudzwa Ngwenya's score, which came after his side's first real prolonged spell of pressure in the opposition's 22, but MacGinty was well short from the resulting conversion.
© Getty Images
Much like before, the Brave Blossoms - hosts of the next instalment of this showpiece competition in four years' time - hit back almost instantly as a result of a US fumble from the restart.
Fujita was the man to profit by picking out a gap and crossing over on his Rugby World Cup debut, ensuring that the game remained tight.
Japan were slowly able to turn the screw and assert their dominance when Goromaru split the sticks for a second time, making this officially their best ever World Cup showing in terms of points scoring, and opening up a nine-point advantage in the process.
It was left to Goromaru to kick off the second half in the same manner as he ended the first, with his perfect record from the boot being maintained after splitting the sticks with an early pen.
© Getty Images
USA, who have exited the tournament at the group stage in each of their past seven appearances now, pushed hard for a route back into the game that was only denied by some poor handling errors.
There was some hope for the Americans when MacGinty kicked over 25 minutes from time to reduce the arrears, but they were denied a second try due to Harumichi Tatekawa's superb challenge to deny flying winger Ngwenya down the right.
It proved a key moment in the game, too, as Eric Fry was shown a yellow for kicking the ball on the ground, and just moments later Eddie Jones's men capitalised after opting to kick into touch and crossing over through replacement Amanaki Mafi from the subsequent lineout.
Japan had already bagged more wins in this year's tournament than in their previous seven involvements, but they were made to work hard for victory number three as the US refused to go down without a fight.
On the back of arguably their finest attacking move of the evening, MacGinty used his vision to pick out skipper Chris Wyles in acres of space on the right to cut the deficit a little more heading into the closing stages.
Just when it looked as though the Eagles were beginning to build some momentum, Goromaru again remained composed to slot over after some ill-discipline from Michael Leitch at the ruck to re-open that hefty margin.
That would prove to be the end of the point scoring as Japan bowed out with another win, while their opponents return Stateside without a point to their name.
Daniel Lewis
