These are fun times for Elvis Besic compared to 12 years ago.

Besic scored a pair of goals and kept the Brazil defense off balance as Bosnia-Herzegovina scored a decisive 5-2 victory in the championship match of the All Nations Cup at Qwest Field.

"We had to leave there," said Besic, 24, who with his family left Bosnia in 1992 without any belongings and settled in Burnaby, B.C., where he still lives. "You feared for your life there. I have Canadian citizenship now and I'm proud to be a Canadian."

Last night's match wasn't about life and death, but the Bosnians played as if it were and upended Brazil, All Nations champion in the inaugural tournament in 2003.

"We were confident with the team we had put together," said team captain Alen Fikic, who moved to Seattle in 1998 from Bosnia. "We played with passion. We wanted it bad and hard work paid off."

Bosnia, which was bigger, faster and stronger, went in front 1-0 on a beautiful goal by Besic, a forward, in the 28th minute. Besic trapped the ball off a long cross from Mensur Muhic and, in one motion, tapped the ball left footed into the right corner.

Besic's brother, Edis, gave Bosnia a 2-0 lead in the 35th minute by burying a 20-yard shot from the left side on a pass from Fikic, who played 6½ years of semi-pro soccer in Germany.

The lead grew to 3-0 when substitute Damir Memisevic connected on a tough-angle goal from the right in the 42nd minute.

Elvis Besic buried a rebound goal in the 48th minute for a 4-0 advantage.

Brazil got on the scoreboard in the 50th minute as Eduardo Souza scored a bending free kick over and around a four-man defensive wall.

Fikic tallied in the 82nd minute for a 5-1 lead on a nice cross from Memisevic.

Finals week of the tournament began on Aug. 21 at Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila.

In the semifinals on Wednesday, Bosnia beat Russia 4-2 and Brazil downed Mexico 5-0 to reach the championship match.

A total of 31 teams started the event three weeks ago.

The tournament is put on by Sister Communities, a Seattle-based organization which fosters relationships between diverse communities in the area.

All Nations Cup players range in age from early 20s to 40s, play for Northwest amateur teams and represent their homelands.

"This is by far the best tournament in the Northwest," Fikic said. "This is the most competitive soccer we can get."

Third-place game

Mexico 4, Russia 3, OT shootout — Ricardo Narvaesz scored the decisive penalty kick and goalkeeper Emilio Frias made the winning save in the fifth round of the shootout as Mexico claimed third place in the All Nations Cup.