Dempsey nets 3 as US routs Cuba 6

He now has a total of 10 in the biennial event, second all-time among American players, behind former US star Landon Donovan (18).

He wasn’t finished. Bradley took advantage of a Cuban error in the 78th minute, bolted down the right side and fed a sliding Dempsey, who knocked the ball home for a 6-0 advantage. Got a goal, but more importantly, was smarter with his runs and worked well with those around him. “You definitely want to score first because the opposing team will have to chase the game if they’re down”.

By routing their long-time Cold War political rivals, the Americans advanced to a Wednesday matchup in Atlanta against the victor of a later quarter-final between Jamaica and Haiti.

Dempsey’s six Gold Cup goals make him the man to catch for the Golden Boot scoring award. “The expectations are on us”.

ON THE LOSING SIDE: It’s been a insane tournament for Cuba, which played the opening group match just 16 players in the team due to multiple defections and visa issues. “The players enjoyed this”.

So far Klinsmann has made some massive roster changes throughout every game, but I think we will finally see some consistency on Saturday.

Dempsey doubled his tally with a penalty shortly after the hour and then completed his treble 12 minutes from time.

Dempsey used his head on the first goal after taking a cross from defender Timmy Chandler in the fourth minute, his touch on the second on a penalty kick in the 64th minute and his determination on the third when he slid toward a pass in the box from Bradley in the 77th minute and flicked in the shot with the outside of his right foot. Fabian Johnson hit a cross from the left-back position almost identical to Chandler’s earlier delivery, and Zardes ghosted in behind the defense to tap home between goalkeeper Diosvelis Guerra’s legs. The Americans passed over Cuba Scoreless 6-0 again as they lost the first game against Mexico. Omar Gonzalez was the recipient of the fourth goal, which was the lead the USMNT took into halftime. The USA has had four days off since playing the group stage in a seven-day span. Dempsey has scored in each of his last five starts for the US, dating back to the 2-0 win over Panama in February.

Kervins Belfort missed just wide with a diving header that could have tied the score in second-half stoppage time. If another nation wins, it would face the U.S.in a playoff for the berth. Midfielders Dario Suarez and Aricheel Hernandez were listed as absent on Wednesday’s lineup sheet before the 1-0 win against Guatemala. With just three points and outscored 8-1, Cuba made to the knockout stages of the Gold Cup entirely on good fortune, a bit of fortitude and, more than anything, CONCACAF being awful.

While the previous Gold Cup in Baltimore in 2013 drew more fans, this year’s group appeared to be much more vocal. On Friday, Martinez disappeared.

Since 1999, according to the Post, about two dozen Cuban soccer players have defected while on assignment in the United States or Canada. He also scored against the Cubans in the 2005 Gold Cup and in a 1-0 World Cup qualifying victory in Havana in September 2008.