Mexico women beat Puerto Rico 3-1 in the Pan American Games Cup on 19 September. Both sides arrived unbeaten after four matches each, but the hosts' 19 points proved enough to edge past their 18-point visitors.
It was the first defeat for either team in this tournament. Mexico had dropped points 2-3 against Dominican Republic on 18 September, while Puerto Rico lost 1-3 to the same day against the United States. The result breaks both sides' winning streaks.
Mexico's record before this match told a different story: three victories and one draw, with clean sheets against Costa Rica and Guatemala. Their attack had been finding the net consistently — they scored three goals in four of their five recent matches. And here's the thing, Puerto Rico had been equally relentless, winning all four previous games and only conceding once in their last three outings.
The 3-1 scoreline leaves Mexico top of the table with 22 points after five matches. Puerto Rico remain in contention but now sit one point behind with four wins from five. The gap in goal difference could prove decisive if this tournament goes to a final standings format.
Both teams have shown they can win away from home this campaign. Mexico's away record includes a 3-1 victory over Canada, while Puerto Rico managed a 3-1 win against the Dominican Republic on 16 September. That away form might matter more than anything else going forward.
