Sam Dickson had three tries as New Zealand qualified for the quarterfinals at the Dubai Sevens with a pool match to spare.

New Zealand have moved into the Dubai Sevens quarterfinals despite a Pool C loss to the USA in added-time.

After grinding to a tight 21-14 win over France and dispatching Portugal 47-5 to confirm a spot in the last eight, Gordon Tietjens' side were knocked over by the Eagles 14-12.

New Zealand still finished at the top of their pool - due to the USA's 26-21 loss to France earlier in the day - to set up a quarterfinal matchup against Samoa at 8.22pm Saturday NZ Time.

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The Kiwis were leading the USA 12-7 with time up, before Perry Baker broke through for his second try of the match, with Madison Hughes slotting his second conversion for the win. It allowed the USA to survive a three-way countback - with New Zealand and France at 2-1 in Pool C - for the second quarterfinal spot. The USA, who won the final tournament of the 2014-15 season in London, will face South Africa in the last eight.

Baker opened the scoring for the USA in the second minute before a DJ Forbes try and Gillies Kaka conversion levelled things just before halftime. Sam Dickson scored his fourth try of the day in the 12th minute to put New Zealand on the verge of a third straight victory, before the elusive Baker struck.

Captain Scott Curry said the opening performance against France left the squad scratching their heads as they collectively failed to fire.

But against Portugal everything clicked, easing the players' minds as to the form they're in.

"Obviously first up against France was pretty tough," Curry said,

"There were just a few little errors, offloads and stuff that didn't go our way, they just capitalised on our mistakes so going into [the Portugal game] we just wanted to set rucks and use the width and we did that."

Sherwin Stowers and Scott Curry gave New Zealand an early lead against France, but the Europeans fought back to make it a contest. A second half Sam Dickson try secured the win.

Things couldn't have been more different against Portugal in the second match of the day.

New Zealand dominated possession and Portugal had no answer as the Kiwis went close to clocking up a half century.

Dickson had a double while Stowers, Curry, Declan O'Donnell, Regan Ware and Dylan Collier also crossed the line for tries. Portugal struggled to take New Zealand kickoffs with two tries coming direct from the restart, while the passing of Augustine Pulu, creativity of Gillies Kaka and speed of Ware were on show throughout.

Ben Strang travelled to Dubai courtesy of Dubai Tourism