The NZ women will drop to a world ranking of No.3 and relinquish their series crown.
The makeshift line-up was missing many of its senior players, but their replacements stepped up.
Maia Ramsden's performance was still eight-hundredths of a second outside Paris Olympics qualifying.
The world champions will slip to No. 3 ranking, as a result.
An injury-plagued Auckland outfit have snapped their four-game losing streak.
The Americans are tied at 15-under overall at Valhalla.
The Ukrainian is the first lineal champion since Lennox Lewis in 1999.
"I learnt from my rowing career that four years of small steps everyday can lead to ultimate success."
Giancarlo Italiano sees the silver linings in his team's heartbreaking semi-final defeat at heaving Sky Stadium.
The Hamiltonian extended his unbeaten professional streak to nine in Saudi Arabia.
The Wellingtonians could not cap a recordbreaking season in front of their biggest-ever crowd.
The Aucklanders also claim the Gordon Hunter Trophy contested between the two franchises.
The Wellington side have overcome a mounting injury toll to continue their unbeaten run.
The defending champions need a lot of things to fall their way in the next two weeks.
'Super Sid' played 29 tests for New Zealand between 1967-77.
The line of walking wounded goes out the door...
The Aucklanders also claim the Gordon Hunter Trophy.
The team from the capital are trying to reach their first-ever Grand Final.
The result has all but ended the champions' hopes of reaching the playoffs.
The proud Northlander redefined halfback play.