Sports

USMNT 4-1 Cuba: With a Joe Corona goal USA advances to quarterfinals

The Americans now top of group C are qualified.

UTAH - The United States Men's National Team (USMNT) has in their hands their ticket to the quarterfinals of the 2013 Gold Cup after beating Cuba by a score of 4-1. The goals came from Landon Donovan, Joe Corona, and Chris Wondlowski who got a brace. For the Cubans it was Ciprian who had given them a shocking lead.

In the starting eleven for the USMNT were the three Tijuana Xolos players Joe Corona, Edgar Castillo, and Herculez Gomez. Joe Corona shinned through with a goal (AZO), Edgar Castillo provoked the penalty with which Landon Donovan tied the game, and Herculez Gomez did not have his best game and was subbed out for Wonolowski to come in.

The home side controlled the ball right from kickoff, but could not manage to break through the well organized Cuban defense. It would be the Cuban side that would break through and score a rather surprising goal.

Martinez dribbled the ball down the right wing and left Xolos defender Edgar Castillo in his path. He sent in a cross and his teammate Ciprian beat his marker to the ball and took a quick bounce shot to give the Cubans a shocking 0-1 lead.

Right before halftime Edgar Castillo went up the field and in a good combination play with Landon Donovan he entered the box full speed ahead and ended up on the floor after some contact with a Cuban defender. The referee did not hesitate to call the penalty. Landon Donovan stepped up and but the ball away for the equalizing goal.

The goal right before the halftime break deflated the Cuban team and the USMNT took advantage of this situation in the second half to pile on the goals and get yet another big win.

In the 56th minute young Tijuana Xolos midfielder Joe Corona took advantage of a poor clearness from the Cuba defense and had a powerful and precise shot to the far post to give the USMNT the 2-1 lead.

The third goal came in the 65th minute and it was the work of Chris Wondolowski who had been subbed in for Xolos' Herculez Gomez. Kyle Beckerman sent in the cross from the right side of the field, Wondolowski ran in and was able to stick his toes out far enough to defelct the ball into the net.

Wondolowski himself would put in the forth of the night for team USA, second for him personally and his fifth in the Gold Cup in two games. Edgar Castillo and Jose Torres had a great combination play on the left side, the Xolos' defender brought the ball down with his chest for Wondolowski to come in and smash home the final goal of the night.

USMNT now sit on top of Group C without needing to find out what happens in the second game of the night. Next up for team USA is the final group game against Costa Rica on Tuesday, July 16.

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