Team Mexico scored a fourth quarter touchdown to edge past the United States beating them 19-17 in a game which may have decided the gold medal at the FISU World University Championships in Harbin, China Thursday, June 21.
Mexico still has one game left against Japan on Sunday, June 24 while Team USA takes on Korea. If Mexico wins their game against the Japanese, they will take home the WUC title for the third straight time. The US squad downed Japan 42-3 earlier in the tournament.
Team Mexico defeated the United States in 2016 to win the championship in Mexico and also captured the WUC crown in the inaugural tournament held in Uppsala, Sweden in 2014.
The United States opened the scoring in the second quarter with a touchdown to take a 7-0 lead. Mexico equalized on a spectacular 95 yard run still in the second quarter.
Then just before the half, the Mexicans took the lead 13-7. Team USA responded with a field goal giving Mexico a narrow 13-10 at the break.
Team USA retook the lead in the third quarter on a rushing touchdown but the Mexicans responded late in the game scoring the winning touchdown with little time left.
In other action Thursday, Team Korea earned their first victory in the five team tournament, blanking the host team, China 42-0.