Cubans smoked

U.S. wins 1-0, advances to Gold Cup quarterfinals

Cuba's Silvio Pedro tries to trip up Cobi Jones during the second half. AP

PASADENA, Calif. (AP) -- The United States team could hardly have played a more dominant -- and closer -- game.

The Americans kept steady pressure on Cuba, held a 16-5 edge in shots -- and still scored only once, on a penalty kick. It still turned out to be enough, as Brian McBride's first-half goal carried the United States to a 1-0 victory Monday over Cuba in the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

"We played the game where we should have beaten them 4-0 or 5-0," said Josh Wolff, who missed on several good scoring opportunities. "We were never able to get that second goal. When you do get the second goal, it has kind of a snowball effect."

The Americans, who opened the tournament with a 2-1 victory over South Korea, assured themselves the best record in their three-team group. They face either Guatemala or El Salvador in Sunday's quarterfinals at the Rose Bowl.

The contest against Cuba was only the second between the countries since Fidel Castro took control. The Americans beat the Cubans 3-0 in a Gold Cup first-round game in 1998 and are 3-1-1 all-time against them.

McBride, one of the national team's five regular starters who played against Cuba, provided the lone score during the 22nd minute of a game marked by blown scoring opportunities by the Americans, who could not finish their chances.

Mexico beats Guatemala to reach Gold Cup quarterfinals PASADENA, Calif. -- Adolfo Bautista, Marco Antonio Garces and Carlos Ochoa scored their first international goals Monday as Mexico beat Guatemala 3-1 and advanced to the CONCACAF Gold Cup quarterfinals. Mexico, which clinched first place in Group A, will face the second-place team from Group B, either South Korea or Cuba, on Sunday. Garces broke a 1-1 tie in the 38th minute. Two minutes earlier, Juan Carlos Plata, Guatemala's all-time leading scorer, had equalized. Plata dribbled from midfield, eluded two defenders and struck his 27th international goal from 13 yards. Bautista's penalty kick gave Mexico a 1-0 lead in the 27th minute. Guatemalan defender Denis Chen was called for a handball in the penalty area and received a red card. Ochoa, who entered the game in the 68th minute, scored the final goal in injury time with a 12-meter (yard) shot. Chen will be ineligible for Guatemala's final first-round game Wednesday night against El Salvador. The winner will advance to the quarterfinals and face the United States, the Group B winner.

"I'm not displeased," U.S. coach Bruce Arena said. "Could we play better? Yes. It was difficult match. The Cubans fought hard and we didn't do so well with our chances."

In addition to getting off 11 more shots than the Cubans, the Americans held a 5-2 edge in shots on goal. American goalkeeper Kasey Keller had to make just two saves, both relatively routine.

The Cubans came closest to scoring when Jeniel Marquez broke down the right side inside the box and kicked the ball toward the far post. But Keller dove to his right and smothered the ball.

McBride took the penalty kick after Cuba's Mario Rodriguez tripped DeMarcus Beasley, the 19-year-old who scored the winning goal against South Korea in injury time on Saturday, in the box.

McBride chipped the ball into the upper right corner of the net as Cuban goalkeeper Odelin Molina guessed wrong and dived the other way, giving himself no chance to stop the shot.

After the Americans were unable to cash in on seven shots in the first half, they missed on several other opportunities in the second. Jeff Cunningham, wide-open and 8 yards from the goal, kicked the ball high over the bar in the 60th minute. Wolff, off on several shots in the first half, missed with a left-footed shot from close range in the 50th minute.

In the first half, Cobi Jones, another national team starter, kicked the ball straight to Molina on a shot from 10 yards in the 29th minute. Wolff had sent a header high over the bar off a fine cross by Jones in the 17th minute.

Landon Donovan muffed a close-range chance in the 40th minute when he rolled his left-footer from the right side all the way across past the left post and out of bounds.

Cuba managed just two shots in the half, and defender Jeff Agoos snuffed the Cubans' only threat of the half when he cleared Livan Perez's attempt from just outside the right post after he had gotten behind the defense.

Summary

Scoring Summary: 1 - 2 - F
Cuba 0 - 0 - 0
United States 1 - 0 - 1

Goalscorers:
USA - McBride (PK), 22.

Lineups:
CUBA (3-5-2): 1-Odelin Molina; 5-Alexander Cruzata, 4-Mario Rodriguez, 2-Alexadner Driggs; 13-Silvio Pedro, 3-Jeniel Marquez, 6-Mario Pedraza (8-Miguel Angel Gandara, 82), 14-Jorge Ramirez (19-Maikel Galindo, 64), 17-Livian Perez; 10-Alberto Delgado, 18-Rey Angel Martinez (9-Lazaro Dacourt,78).
Substitutes Not Used: 12-Alexis Reve, 7-Raciel Torres, 11-Ariel Bentancourt, 22-Rene Estrada.

USA (4-4-2): 18-Kasey Keller (capt.); 2-Frankie Hejduk, 25-Pablo Mastroeni, 12-Jeff Agoos, 17-Carlos Bocanegra; 13- Cobi Jones, 14-Chris Armas, 4-DaMarcus Beasley, 21-Landon Donovan (8-Richie Williams, 55); 20-Brian McBride, 15-Josh Wolff (27-Jeff Cunningham, 66).
Substitutes Not Used: 1-Tony Meola, 7-Eddie Lewis, 9-Brian West, 11-Ante Razov, 17-Manny Lagos.

Statistical Summary:  CUB - USA
Shots 6 - 16
Saves 4 - 2
Corner Kicks 2 - 4
Fouls 24 - 22
Offside 3 - 1

Misconduct Summary:
CUB - Perez (caution), 38.
CUB - Pedraza (caution), 46.
CUB - Silvio Pedro (caution), 66.
USA - Bocanegra (caution), 71.
CUB - Driggs (caution), 74.
USA - Hejduk (caution), 80.

Referee: Jose PINEDA (HON)
Assistant Referee #1: Mike MITCHELL (JAM)
Assistant Referee #2: Hector VERGARA (CAN)
Fourth Official: Noel BYNOE (TRI)

Chevrolet Man of the Match: DaMarcus Beasley

 

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