Mexico Claims Four Nations Cup Title

By Dash Hammond

MEXICO 6, USA 3

In a scrappy final at Frontwave Arena, Mexico pulled away late to defeat the United States 6–3 and capture the Four Nations Cup title, along with the grand prize of $10,000. Mexico, led by Medina and Gutierrez, fought to take down the USA despite a goalkeeping display from Pardo and Toth.

The match opened with a defensive stalemate, as both goalkeepers—Pardo for Mexico and Hernandez for the U.S.—stood tall to keep the opening quarter scoreless. The breakthrough came three minutes into the second quarter after a blue card to U.S. keeper Pardo gifted Mexico a shootout. Medina calmly slotted past Toth for the 1–0 lead, but the U.S. answered less than a minute later when Perera teed up Reget on a set piece to level the score. Both sides traded chances before halftime, with the keepers continuing to shine as the game went into the break tied at 1–1. Mexico struck again early in the third through Medina, finishing a clever pass from

Gonzalez on a top-of-the-arc set piece. But the U.S. quickly responded from another shootout, Stinson converting to tie it at 2–2 heading into the final frame. The fourth quarter delivered fireworks. Leal buried a rebound to give Mexico the edge, and Gutierrez doubled the advantage moments later with a dazzling solo run and chip finish. Sanchez briefly cut the deficit for the U.S. with a rocket strike, but Mexico poured it on late. Gallegos spun and fired home to restore a two-goal cushion before Gutierrez’s header forced an own goal to seal the result. Mexico controlled possession down the stretch and ran out the clock, celebrating a decisive 6–3 victory and the crown as Four Nations Cup champions.

BRAZIL 7, COLOMBIA 2
In a fast-paced showdown packed with momentum swings, Brazil and Colombia traded blows early before Brazil’s second-half carried them to a 7–3 victory. Both sides showcased plenty of attacking flair, but Olivera and Ortiz led Brazil to claim third place in the Four Nations Cup

Colombia broke the deadlock just three minutes into the opening quarter. Moran slipped a pass to Moreno, who spun with his back to the goal. Though his first effort was blocked, he pounced on the rebound and fired past the Rainer for the early lead. Brazil responded late in the first, with Ze Roberto setting up Cris to level the score. But the joy was short-lived, as Colombia reclaimed the advantage just 10 seconds later. Ospina found Montanez in stride, who slotted home to restore Colombia’s edge heading into the second quarter. The momentum shifted in the second period. Four minutes in, Brazil equalized once again when Olivera slid the ball wide to Leanderson, who blasted a powerful strike beyond Patino. A minute later, Brazil took their first lead of the night. On a set piece, Olivera played a short pass to Douglas, who rifled it home to put Brazil on top, 3–2. 

The third quarter saw a long stretch without goals until a Brazilian power play broke things open. Rian delivered a back-post pass to Leanderson, who buried a tough-angled shot to double Brazil’s lead. Colombia fought back early in the fourth, capitalizing on a Brazilian turnover. Ortiz pounced on the loose ball and lofted a shot over the stranded keeper to cut the deficit to one. But Brazil quickly struck back—Leanderson completed his hat trick six minutes into the final frame, reestablishing their two-goal cushion. As Colombia pushed numbers forward, Brazil punished them on the counter. Williams’s shot from distance deflected off Rian and into the net for Brazil’s sixth. Moments later, Rennan intercepted a Colombian attack and lobbed the ball over the sixth attacker into an empty net, sealing a 7–3 victory.