The final day of World Sevens Football did not disappoint with great goals and intense matches that culminated in a championship for the NWSL’s San Diego Wave FC.
The Wave went undefeated through five matches,
scored 15 goals and only conceded three across the three-day tournament in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to claim $2 million from the total $5 million prize pool.
From the beginning of the championship match against Tigres seemed destined for a defensive affair. Wave defender Daniela Arias went straight for a high kick while Tigres’ María Sánchez was trying to head the ball away. Arias went down following the collision, but got a deserved yellow card for the dangerous attempt.
Makenzy Robbe scored the game-winner for San Diego at the 10th minute after solid defensive play by Hanna Lundkvist and Gia Corley in the middle of the field to recover a ball. Corley kicked the ball away from a Tigres player in the midfield then passed the ball off to her left to an open Makenzy Robbe at the top of the box. Robbe slotted the ball into the bottom right corner with her right foot to make it 1-0.
Adriana Leon scored a brace to start the second half to solidify their lead for what would be the final score of 3-0.
Wave beat the Brazilian club, Clube de Regatas do Flamengo in the semifinals 5-1
Flamengo got the scoring started first in the eighth minute against San Diego with an out-swinging strike from just outside the box into the top right corner to make it 1-0.
In the 12th minute Gia Corley scored her first goal of the tournament when she banged the ball in to the top right corner with her right foot to equalize the match at 1-1.
The best goal of the match came in minute 26 with a long shot from very far away by Kenza Dali. Dali picked off a cross in the middle of the box, took a second to plant her feet then launch the ball over everyone including the goalkeeper playing high up to make it 4-1.
The final goal came from Daniela Arias from another goal from distance while the defenders were pressing much higher to make it 5-1.
María Sánchez continues dominance for Tigres
The second-place team were led by the player of the tournament and golden boot-winner, María Sánchez who made two key assists in Tigres’ semifinal match against Club América, a rematch of the 2025 Liga MX Femenil Apertura championship in November.
Tigres come out on front in the 4th minute as Sánchez got her first assist of the tournament with a run down the left side and simple cross in front of goal to Stephanie Mayor acting as a striker.
Later on in the match Club América scored an impressive equalizer in the 13th minute as Club América’s Montserrat Saldívar acted as a screen in front of the goalkeeper. Saldívar and let a free kick by Irene Guerrero go through her legs and into the back of the net.
Tigres then scored the first goal in the golden goal extra time of the tournament to win the match and advance to the final. Stephanie Mayor scored once again in a nearly identical play as their first with Sánchez running down the left side before crossing the ball toward the open back post for Mayor who tapped it in.
Club América played against Flamengo in a tough third-place match that ended 1-0 with a goal by Jana Gutierrez in the 22nd minute. Goalkeeper Sandra Paños was one of the standouts for the Aguilas making 25 saves across five matches and picked up a cut on her face just before the end of the match.
