USA Hit Six Past Cuba To Advance in Gold Cup

Cuba knew they faced a real challenge against the United States as the two teams walked out onto the field in Baltimore for this Gold Cup knockout game, but it always felt like only one team showed up.

Cuba had shipped six goals against Mexico earlier in the tournament, and the US were hoping to top that performance. A strong USMNT starting lineup was named, headlined up top by Clint Dempsey, Gyasi Zardes and Aron Johannsson. Michael Bradley had the captains armband, and Brad Guzan was again in goal. This was not a match they were prepared to take lightly.

Dempsey showed why he is one of the best player’s ever to represent the USMNT; and continued his strong showing at this years Gold Cup. He netted the first goal in four minutes, to get the USA off the mark and begin the avalanche of goals that was to come.

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Gyasi Zardes was next to get his name of the scoresheet. The LA Galaxy man scored his first competitive international goal; making most of the opportunity that has presented itself to him with the departure of Jozy Altidore after Jurgen made squad changes. Zardes had been playing in the shadows of the big Toronto striker but now, he had the stage to himself.

Zardes is not selfish of course and showed great link-up play all game, and was almost always involved in the key team-moves. He had another opportunity himself as he tried to chip the Cuban goalkeeper but saw his effort go amiss.

One player who did manage to chip the keeper was Aron Johannsson; making it three after cheekily putting it over and out of reach of the goalkeeper to put three on the board.

Zardes was not the only Galaxy player on the scoresheet. His teammate in California, Omar Gonzales, found himself in the right place at the right time to put his own name on the scoresheet to wrap up the first-half for the United States after putting away the ball in a very crowded penalty area.

The second-half began much the same, and the US found themselves with a free-kick in the 48′ minute that Bradley elected to take, but fired over the bar. Cuba were let off the hook. Their main plan of action was trying to break on the counter-attack, usually pressing down the US flanks to mixed success.

Jurgen had made some substitutions at the break, bringing on Joe Corona and Brad Evans for Kyle Beckerman and Timmy Chandler respectively. Eyes on the next game of the tournament perhaps.

Reyes in the number nine shirt for the Cubans was quite energetic, and had a couple of chances that were ultimately too easy for Brad Guzan in the United States goal. Still, it reminded everyone that the game was not going to be as easy as it may seem. That was the idea anyway. Reyes tried as much as possible to keep Cuba in the game, always on the move and looking to make something happen despite the odds.

The first yellow was shown just before the hour mark, Yaisnier Napoles booked for a hefty challenge on Joe Corona that was unquestionably a yellow card. By this time in the game, the USA were still stuck on their first-half score of 4-0 but were soon rewarded with a penalty.

Aron Johannsson was felled in the penalty area as he tried to connect with an aerial ball; so Dempsey was in charge of getting his fifth on the Gold Cup and the United State’s fifth of the game. The goalkeeper got a touch on it but was not enough to deny the Seattle Sounders man from converting from the spot. That penalty moved Dempsey past the legendary Brian McBride into second on the USMNT’s all-time Gold Cup goal list. Dempsey now had ten goals to his name, and was looking for more.

Cuba were now well and truly up against it, their main mission now was to stop Dempsey from getting his hat-trick. Reyes showed some fancy footwork to dance around the US defense but again was unable to make anything of it. Guzan and Alvarado had a mix up that saw Cuba get another shot off soon after, but again Guzan held firm. Most of their ventures forward ended up flagged offside but the desire was there, for which they must be applauded for. Most teams would not bother at this stage.

Yedlin was introduced as the final US substitute, an extra hurdle for the Cuban team to navigate. He helped the US break on the counter with Gyasi Zardes but the ball played into the box was dealt with by Cuba. The introduction of Yedlin injected some much needed pace to the wings and also added another dimension into the attacking play.

The US were determined not to get complacent, and their hard work was rewarded as Dempsey stormed in to complete his hat-trick thanks to the work of Michael Bradley. He had already scored a hat-trick against Portland in MLS in April, now he had another this season too. One for club and one for country.

It was a good performance for the USA, and they got the result they wanted. Cuba just couldn’t handle the quality, and were unable to replicate the success they found against Guatemala that allowed them to go through and set this contest up. Some of the defensive play was a little lax at times, and that is something that needs to be improved but going forward it was pretty much perfect, aside from a few chances that went high or wide.

Dempsey was named Man of the Match, and taking home the match-ball for his hat-trick. Another record was set too, the highest margin of victory in a Gold Cup quarter-final. Not a bad way to head into the semi-finals.