The USA celebrated its first cross-country gold medal as Jessica Diggins and Kikkan Randall skied aggressively to first position in the race in a time of 20.24.
The Americans beat the Swedish pair of Charlotte Kalla and Ida Ingemarsdotter into second place for the silver by 7.8 seconds.
The Finnish team did well to claim the bronze following a strong surge by the young American Diggins during her final leg of the race. Finland finished 10.9 seconds behind the winners.
Norway, a favourite during the qualifying rounds, tasted bitter disappointment as a fall by one team member dashed their medal hopes and put them in fourth place.
