In their Gold Cup quarterfinal showdown in Baltimore, the United States put on a fireworks
Quick start
Cuba was looking to try and attack early, but a couple of more passes in the final third let them down. The United States made them pay in the opening minutes as Clint Dempsey headed home a cross from Timothy Chandler. That goal made him lone top goalscorer of the tournament moving in front of Oribe Peralta.
It was just ten minutes later that the Stars and Stripes
More United States dominance
Cuba finally managed to muster a shot on the half hour mark but Brad Guzan had no problem dealing with it. Just three minutes later, Aron Johannsson received a ball from Michael Bradley. He saw the keeper well outside his box and chipped him for the third of the game. In the 42nd minute, Cuba had their first clear-cut chance through Reyes, but he headed it over the bar.
Just before halftime, the States struck again. Off a Bradley corner, Johannsson knocked the ball towards
At halftime, Timothy Chandler came off due to some soreness in his right knee. He was taken out for precautionary reasons because of that knee and was replaced by Brad Evans. Newly brought in squad member Joe Corona, came in for Kyle Beckerman.
Dempsey’s double
After Cuba got a few chances to try and attack, Johannsson was taken down in the box by Horta. Dempsey took the penalty and cooly converted it by finishing up the middle. It was his second brace of the tournament and put him as the second-highest scoring American in Gold Cup
Dempsey’s Hat-Trick
DeAndre Yedlin came on for Fabian Johnson and his flair and
Minutes after Alberto Gomez came on for Felix Guerra for Cuba, a poor touch by a Cuban defender sent the ball right back to Bradley. The United States captain went on a run and
The rest of the game was the United States trying to kill off time. However, more entertainment was on the way with a couple of Olimpico attempts by Bradley just a few minutes before full time.
The game finished 6-0 as we all saw the “real” United States for the first time this tournament. They were out to prove a point against Cuba and did. Next up for them will be Jamaica in the semifinals in Atlanta.