Cuban soccer players are no-shows at Gold Cup match in US

Vela almost scored again two minutes on, sending a right-footer inches wide of the post; a miss that would prove costly in the 57th minute when Trinidad equalized through Jones, making amends for his earlier giveaway, by directing a right-footed touch on to the left-side of goal.

There’s not much going for these two Group C Underdogs, after scoring a whopping combined total of just one goal in four matches so far in this year’s Gold Cup competition.

Cuba scored its only goal of the group stage, recording a 1-0 Group C victory over Guatemala at Bank of America Stadium Wednesday night to qualify for the CONCACAF Gold Cup quarterfinals. Reyes was given a yellow card for taking his shirt off as he celebrated with teammates in front of a corner kick flag. Already having lost one player via defection, they lost another before Sunday’s game against Trinidad and Tobago. He returned for the second game against Trinidad and Tobago, although he didn’t score in the 2-0 loss. In the first game of the tournament, Mexico made quick work of the island nation by a score of 6-0.

Last week, forward Keiler Garcia defected before Cuba’s match against Mexico in Chicago on July 9, and goalkeeper Arael Arguellez left the following day. Cuba is also without midfielder Aricheel Hernandez, who has had visa problems.

Cuba is now set for a date with the United States Saturday in Baltimore.

Said Gonzalez: “The U.S. is one of the favored teams in the tournament to win it and we have to prepare very well to play 90 minutes physically and mentally”.

While Guatemala had penalty appeals turned down either side of halftime, the Central Americans should have few complaints, as Cuba dominated the second half.

Guatemala finished the tournament 0-2-1.

The two teams battled to a scoreless tie in the first half with both registering four shots on goal.

Ruiz had the ball inside the net five minutes later, but it was ruled out for offside as Cuba held on to book their spot in the last eight. Expect Los Ticos to sit in and try to hit Mexico on the break, while the likes of Oribe Peralta and Carlos Vela will try to get El Tri going and send Miguel Herrera’s men into the semifinals against the victor of T&T and Haiti.