It was the first televised debate between US presidential nominees Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump – so understandably tensions were high.
As Americans (along with curious bystanders around the world) watched-on intently, the two politicians bashed it out over an intense 90-minute discussion held at Hofstra University just outside New York.
In the aftermath, numerous commentators agreed that while Trump started strongly, he quickly spiralled out of control – becoming increasingly defensive and chaotic in the face of Clinton's cool and controlled demeanour.
With hardened moderator Lester Holt directing proceedings, the Republican nominee was forced to angrily defended himself against charges of racism, sexism and tax avoidance.
Trump saw his biggest hits come courtesy of trade deal issues and Hillary's own political record, but the former Apprentice star nevertheless appeared under-prepared for a stage of such magnitude.
Here are are some of the main issue that the candidates disagreed on…
1) On being president of the United States
TRUMP: "She doesn't have the stamina."
CLINTON: "As soon as he travels to 112 different countries and negotiates a peace deal, a cease-fire… or even when he stands in front of a congressional committee for 11 hours straight, he can talk to me about stamina."
2) On creating and supporting jobs
TRUMP: "Our jobs are fleeing the country."
CLINTON: "We have to build an economy that works for everyone – not just those at the top."
3) On the economy
TRUMP: "Under my plan I will be reducing taxes tremendously – from 35 percent to 15 per cent for companies; small and big businesses. It's going to be a beautiful thing to watch."
CLINTON: "The kind of plan that Donald has put forth would be trickle-down economics all over again. I call it 'Trumped up; trickled down.'"
4) On the issue of Barack Obama's birth-cert
TRUMP: "I was the one who got him to produce the birth certificate – and I think I did a good job."
CLINTON: "He started his political activity based on this racist lie that our first black president was not an American citizen."
5) On taxes:
TRUMP: "I will release my tax returns, against my lawyers' wishes, when she releases her 33,000 emails that have been deleted. As soon as she releases them I will release my tax returns."
CLINTON: "Maybe he doesn't want the American people – all of you watching tonight – to know that he's paid nothing in federal taxes. That means zero for troops; zero for Vets. Because there's something he's hiding."
6) On track-records:
TRUMP: "Hillary has experience – but it's bad experience."
CLINTON: "This is a man who's called women pigs, slobs, and dogs."
