Puerto Rico claimed a 3-1 victory over Canada at the Pan American Cup on Saturday, a result that reads like a correction after their meeting earlier this week. The hosts had won that fixture 3-1 on 10 August, and by then you'd have thought the hierarchy was set. Not this time.
Canada arrived in form, unbeaten in four matches since a 0-3 defeat to Belgium in July. They'd put three past Trinidad and Tobago, Costa Rica, and the United States in succession. Puerto Rico had matched that momentum with three straight wins over Cuba, Trinidad and Tobago, and Costa Rica. Both sides came in confident.
The scoreboard tells a different story. Puerto Rico's three goals came against a Canadian side that had been solid in the previous five games, losing only to Belgium on 19 July. Canada's run of four victories ended here. To be fair, Puerto Rico's own form had been impressive — three clean sheets in a row before this match.
There were no statistics supplied for possession or shots, so the narrative rests on the reversal itself. Two days ago Canada were on top. Now Puerto Rico have taken the upper hand in what appears to be a tight group. The goal difference shifts, and that matters more than any single result.
What this means for the standings depends on what other results were posted. Canada's four-match unbeaten streak is over. Puerto Rico's three consecutive victories continue, and they've now beaten Canada twice in as many meetings. The group is wide open.