Needing a 4-0 win to advance to the quarterfinals, Cuba got just that, while the U.S. topped Costa Rica to finished the group stage with a perfect nine points.
Cuba’s amazing win sends them to quarters
USA TODAY SportsCuba needed a four-goal win over Belize on Tuesday night to advance to the quarterfinals, which meant they were all but dead and buried. Only nobody told them that they had no chance so they went out and pulled off a remarkable 4-0 win, capped by a stoppage time capper, to book their spot in the Gold Cup knockout stages.
Ariel Martinez was the star of the match, giving Belize fits from the very start. He was everywhere, creating chances for others and testing Disovelis Guerra himself with regularity to grab the match by the throat.
Read Article >USA vs. Costa Rica: Lineups
George FreyU.S. only needs a draw to win Gold Cup group
USA TODAY SportsCosta Rica trails the U.S. on goal differential, so they have to win to take the group, while the United States only needs a draw. No matter the final result, the winner of Group C will be the best-placed group winner.
Jurgen Klinsmann has opted to look at a number of different players so far in the tournament and his team’s pre-tournament warm-up against Guatemala. He says he’ll play his best team against Costa Rica on Tuesday night, so expect his selection of players to be the ones he picks going forward into the knockout stages if they achieve a positive result against the Ticos.
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