The Pan American Games threw up a surprise on Thursday as the Dominican Republic women’s side beat Mexico 3:2. The visitors took the lead and held on despite the hosts’ strong start to the tournament.
Before kickoff, the hosts had won all four of their games, gathering 19 points to go clear at the summit. The Dominican Republic trailed by four points, sitting in second place with three victories and one loss. It was a tight race for the top spot, and the result shifted the balance considerably. To be fair, the hosts had been dominant, but the visitors showed resilience.
Mexico had looked imperious in their previous outings, winning five matches in a row. They had beaten Cuba, Guatemala, the United States, and Costa Rica comfortably before a tighter contest against Colombia.
The visitors were not without their own doubts, having lost 3:1 to Puerto Rico on Tuesday. They had bounced back with wins against Canada, Venezuela, and Nicaragua, and a victory over Cuba on Wednesday. Things came to a head on Thursday, and they found a way back into the game.
The hosts started brightly, as their position suggests, but the visitors made adjustments. Mexico took the lead at one point, yet the Dominican Republic responded with three goals to seal the win.
Mexico dropped to second place on 16 points after the defeat. The Dominican Republic moved up to first with 18 points, overtaking the hosts. It was a shift that changed the complexion of the tournament’s opening week.
