The International team need five points on the final day to secure a first Presidents Cup in 28 years after holding off a United States fightback on day three in Medinah.
The Internationals were behind in every match at one stage but will go into Sunday’s singles holding a 10-5-7.5 lead.
The hosts had the better of the morning session, winning two and tying one of the four-balls.
But the teams split the afternoon foursomes, with Canada’s Corey Conners saving par at the 18th to win the final match on the course and preserve the Internationals’ three-point lead.
The International team have only won the President’s Cup once since its inception in 1994 and never on American soil.
“We were down in every match, and to come back and get one and a half points out of this morning, we felt that was a little victory because we were down everywhere,” said team captain Geoff Ogilvy.
“This afternoon, the same thing happened. Team USA played so well all day. They played some really high-level foursomes, especially this afternoon.
“For the boys to somehow come back and pinch two points out of that and split the session was amazing.”
Sunday sees 12 singles games take place, with each side needing 15.5 points to seal victory.