Trinidad and Tobago book Gold Cup quarterfinals ticket with win vs. Cuba
Trinidad & Tobago built on their opening night victory over Guatemala, following up with a 2-0 triumph over Cuba on Sunday night in Glendale, AZ to become the first team from Group C to advance to the CONCACAF Gold Cup quarterfinals.
Sheldon Bateau and Andrea Boucaud scored for the Soca Warriors, who will head into their final group match against Mexico knowing they are already through to the last eight. Mexico hope to join them in that already-qualified comfort zone when they play Guatemala in the second game of the twin bill at the University of Phoenix Stadium.
This was not the dominant, flowing Trinidad & Tobago side which had blown Guatemala away in the first 26 minutes of the opening group match, but it was a side which always looked in control and was aware of what had to be done to secure advancement. Once ahead, Trinidad & Tobago played with a confidence that allowed them to dictate the pace and territorial tenor of the match.
Cuba, much better with the addition of five starters who had missed the Mexico opening game due to visa problems, were not completely outplayed as against the Mexicans, but paid full price thanks to some clinical T&T finishing that obviated a much-improved Cuban effort. Failure to be incisive when they did attack also cost the Cubans dearly, their approach work undone by the lack of quality at the front.
A foul on Adrian Dizpe set up a 16th minute Soca Warriors free kick that eventually resulted in the opening goal. The resulting free kick was poorly hit, but it rebounded to the halfway line and was served back in for Lester Peltier to bring a big save from Diosvely Guerrasan in the Cuban goal. The keeper could not control the rebound, however, allowing Bateau to pounce and bury the first strike of the night.
The second T&T tally came in the 42nd minute after the Cubans had enjoyed a fair share of possession without truly being able to create chances. When a long Daniel Cyrus throw-in was allowed to reach an open Boucaud at the top right of the box, the midfielder made no mistake, hitting the low right corner as punished an elementary defensive blunder in the process.
Cuba did create their best chance just before the interval when John Michael Williams had to come off his line and extend both legs to deny Maikel Reyes, the keeper injuring himself in the process. That brought on Marvin Phillip in the T&T goal for the remainder of the match, Williams appearing to have picked up a hamstring or groin complaint.
The reserve keeper was never put under pressure, though, as T&T played a conservative second half, protecting what they had while limiting the Cubans to possession in midfield areas that were never going to be dangerous.
