Dempsey Goal Is Difference As US Squeak Past Cuba

By Noah Davis

On a rainy pitch in front of 15,000 hostile fans who paid the equivalent of four American cents to attend, the United States defeated Cuba 1-0 in the second game of CONCACAF semifinal round qualifying for the World Cup 2010. Clint Dempsey tallied the game winner late in the first half and the defense made the score stand up.

First Half
Cuba used the energy provided by its supporters to find the first half chance of the match. Off a 4th-minute corner kick, Carlos Domingo got behind Maurice Edu at the far post but the defender sprayed his right-footed volley harmlessly over the net.

In the 10th minute, Frankie Hejduk and Landon Donovan had a nice one-touch exchange after the Columbus Crew wingback made a run up the pitch, but Donovan’s shot went to the left of Cuban keeper Odelin Molina.

At the half hour mark, the US started to take some control of the game. Edu played a brilliant ball over the top to Brian Ching, but the Dynamo man’s questionable decision to try to bring it down instead of hitting a volley backfired and he fumbled the ball over the touchline.

Michael Bradley picked up his obligatory yellow card in the 37th minute for an unnecessary hard sliding challenge.

The United States broke the deadlock in the 40th minute with a scrappy goal. The in-form Oguchi Onyewu began the play, lofting a ball from behind the half field line that bounced off Clint Dempsey’s back and dropped to Ching who touched it back to the Fulham man. Dempsey calmly slotted it passed Domingo from 12 yards out.

Second Half
Cuba came out inspired to start the second half. Roberto Linares almost had the equalizer in the first minute, but his ambitious, looping attempt from 30 yards out went just over the crossbar.

Substitute Alain Cervantes had one of Cuba’s better chances when he received the ball in stride near the left corner of the US area after making an overlapping run. His strong shot, however, was smothered by Tim Howard, a necessary stop as two Cuban attackers were waiting to pounce on any rebound.

After Cervantes’ attempt, the United States seemed to awake from its slumber. Edu almost doubled the American’s lead in the 59th minute but his left-footed shot from distance curved just by the right post. A minute later, Dempsey almost scored again but his deflected shot skipped wide. DaMarcus Beasley, who had trouble with his cleats throughout the match, should have scored in the 62nd minute but his shot with his off-foot went well over the net.

The final 20 minutes of the match saw the US slow the pace, while Cuba tried to go forward but failed to produce a goal. Sacha Kljestan came in for Dempsey in the 77th minute and made his presence felt with a few energetic runs.  

The most surreal moment of the match came in the 86th minute when half the lights in the stadium went out, causing a minute-long stoppage. After the game resumed, Cuba had its best chance of the match off a free kick. The long ball deflected off U.S. defender Carlos Bocanegra and Howard was forced to react quickly before corralling the rebound.

With the win, the US moves into sole possession of first place in Group A. Trinidad and Tobago, who tied Guatemala 1-1 earlier in the day, sit in second place and will face Bob Bradley’s squad on Wednesday in Chicago. Cuba is at the bottom of the group and will play Guatemala next.
 
Noah Davis covers the U.S. national team for Goal.com.