Americans advance with a rout

As expected, the U.S. has once again advanced to the CONCACAF finals tonight thanks to a 6-1 dismantling of Cuba.

It was as easy as one, two, three, four. Four games. Four wins.

The U.S. was far superior to Cuba, but after a 1-0 win last month in Havana, the Americans left much to think about heading into this contest.

After DeMarcus Beasley bagged a pair of goals in the first 30 minutes, it looked like it was going to be all USA. Just after his second, Cuba struck quickly as Tim Howard was caught off his line as a Jenzy Muñoz shot dropped just under the crossbar.

With the game looking like it was heading to the half at 2-1, Cuba’s chances were all but gone as Yoel Colome picked up his second yellow in the 42nd minute. The life was taken out of the Cuban team as they were already playing with a thin bench to due to Pedro Faife and Reynier Alcantara went missing Friday. It’s assumed that they were defecting as many other Cuban athletes have done in the past.

Up 2-1 and a man up in the second half, the Americans rolled by spreading out the Cubans and attacking from all angles. Landon Donovan struck three minutes into the second half. Brain Ching added number four in the 63rd and Jozy and Gooch added numbers five and six in garbage time.

The U.S. dominated the game from the get go and it was good for them to wrap the group up with two matches left. Now it’s time to let the young guys run loose and see what they can do. Adu and Altidore came in as subs, but now with qualification assured for the finals, they could sniff the starting eleven for Wednesday’s matchup against Trinidad & Tobago.

Another interesting note on the game was the substitution of 20-year-old midfielder, Jose Francisco Torres, who with the cap no longer has the option to play for Mexico. The Texas-native who plays for Pachuca had a desire to play for Mexico in the Olympics, but after not getting a call, decided to play for the U.S. when the call-up came for tonight’s match.