Cuba v United States Live Commentary & Result, 2016/10/07, Friendlies

That's all for our live coverage from Havana, thanks for following along. Goodbye!

On the scoreboard it were the Americans who came out on top this afternoon, scraping by thanks to goals from Chris Wondolowski and Julian Green, but it was Cuba who impressed the most today and will consider themselves unlucky not to have walked away with a result.

Fitting scenes at the end of this match as the players swap shirts, a classy gesture representative of the blossoming relationship between these contrasting political entities.

FULL-TIME: CUBA 0-2 USA.

OFFSIDE YET AGAIN! Hernandez gets on the end of an inviting delivery from the left, sending a looping effort over the keeper. Horvath recovers to just keep it out, but it wouldn't have counted anyhow, as the flag was raised.

There will be a minimum of three minutes added on at the end of this match.

E. Gelkis

M. Reyes

Late switch for the hosts as Eddie Olivares replaces Reyes.

Cuba continue to push for a consolation goal, but the visitors have turned their attention to preserving the clean sheet now as we approach the 90th minute. Plenty of white shirts back as Cuba win a corner, but the US deal with it accordingly.

It's all settled now, and despite the scoreline, it's the winning manager will be going back to the drawing board after this one, while Cuba's will be thrilled with the performance of his side today. It has to be said that they're a bit unlucky to be trailing right now, and it's something of a miracle that they don't have a goal to show for their efforts.

STAT: The United States have won each of their last three friendly matches away from home, against Puerto Rico, Germany and the Netherlands.

Play has yet to resume as the training staff continues to treat Birnbaum. You can never be too cautious with a head injury, and there's blood emanating from a nasty cut above the defender's eye. Klinsmann is rather heated on the touchline, shouting incessantly at the referee for not bringing play to a halt when Birnbaum went to ground.

HE'S MISSED A SITTER! Birnabaum goes down under his own power, falling to ground more than a few seconds after being caught by a high boot. As a result of him seemingly collapsing to ground, it all opens up for Cuba, who break two against one. The cross comes in from the right, but the man to meet it in the centre lifts an effort inexplicably over the bar!

The tempo has fizzled out a great deal as fatigue starts to set it. These Cuban players have put in an admirable shift this afternoon, but with their chances dwindling by the second, they're starting to fade, and the visitors are keen to slow things down themselves.

R. Peraza

R. Caballero

Roberto Peraza enters the fray here for Cuba, at the expense of Caballero.

D. Blanco

D. Sáez

Another change here for Cuba as Dayron Blanco replaces Saez.

STAT: This is the first time since the USA have played a friendly on Cuban soil since 1947. They did travel to Havana for a 2010 World Cup qualifier, earning a hard-fought 1-0 victory.

C. Wondolowski

Assist

A goal and an assist off the bench for Wondolowski.

J. Green

Goal

DOUBLE DELIGHT FOR THE STARS AND STRIPES! Role reversal on this goal, as the Americans double their lead. It's Wondolowski who acts as provider this time around, sending a cool cross in for Green who arrives ahead of his marker for the simple tap-in.

D. Williams

S. Klještan

Kljestan is replaced by Danny Williams.

P. Arriola

J. Altidore

Paul Arriola replaces Altidore for the USA.

MY WORD THEY KEEP COMING! Cuba looking inspired in attack! They've been pegged back but it's hardly damaged their confidence! A delightful cross from Hernandez finds Caballero at the far post, but somehow Horvath tracks across to keep it out, quite incredibly!

D. Espinosa

A. Gómez

The hosts make their first change as Duxney Espinosa replaces Gomez.

STAT: Cuba have lost each of their last four friendly matches, failing to score a single goal. They have been outscored 11-0 over that span (facing Jamaica, Nicaragua twice and Honduras).

C. Wondolowski

Goal

THE AMERICANS HAVE THE BREAKTHROUGH! Cuban resistance is broken and Green is unsurprisingly at the heart of it. His shot from the edge of the box is parried, but Wondolowski is on hand to confidently slot home the rebound.

J. Morris

B. Wood

Jordan Morris replaces the ineffective Wood.

Y. López

Yellow Card

Lopez is the second Cuban player booked on the afternoon, with the referee doing a good job to bring play back after initially giving the advantage.

OH MY WORD HOW CLOSE WAS THAT?! Brilliant running from Reyes who takes matters into his own hands, charging at the USA defence and bursting into the area. He drives a shot in at the near post, but it rattles off the woodwork, rolls across the line and somehow stays out!

Kljestan and Bradley have simply not been good enough for the USA in this match. The Americans have enjoyed some bright moments down the flanks, with some good service coming through from the wider areas, but through the centre it's been incredibly pedestrian.

CLOSE! Sanchez just manages to get his fingertips to a cross in from the right, taking it away from Wondolowski at the vital moment! Green arrives on the follow-up, but his effort from in close is blocked. Meanwhile, Francisco has gone down here as play comes to a halt.

STAT: The United States have scored 16 goals in their last three meetings with Cuba, while conceding just twice.

This is a much better start to the half from the USA, who were likely given something of a tongue lashing by Klinsmann at the interval. They're starting to impose themselves in the final third and are picking out some much more dangerous passes.

Early chance for the US that nearly sees them snatch the lead. Altidore peels off his marker at the far post and heads back into the danger area where Wood is there to attack it, but his header is turned aside by Sanchez!

Here we go again!

T. Chandler

D. Yedlin

Substitution DeAndre Yedlin Timothy Chandler

C. Wondolowski

C. Pulisic

Veteran striker Chris Wondolowski enters the fray at the expense of Pulisic.

The historical significance behind this fixture has taken a backseat to the events on the pitch, as Cuba have not only kept the USA at arm's length, but they've arguably carved out the best chances of the match thus far as the teams head scoreless into the interval in Havana.

HALF-TIME: CUBA 0-0 USA.

There will be a minimum of one minute added on at the end of this first half.

Cuba looking to finish this first half on the front foot, and they have a free-kick to work with about 25 yards out, to the right of the penalty area. A crowd forms in the area, but the final delivery into the area is wasteful, sailing miles over the bar and behind.

Into the final five minutes of this first half and Cuba are in possession again, following another lethargic and altogether toothless American attack. Wood and Altidore's partnership has blossomed of late, but they've shown very little tonight, hardly combining at all in attack.

STAT: USA have won five successive friendlies in 2016, defeating Iceland, Canada, Puerto Rico, Ecuador and Bolivia.

It's anyone's guess as to who will be the side to break this deadlock. If anything, it's the hosts who are looking the more threatening side. With some better passing in the final third, they could already be up one or two to nothing. Klinsmann's side are looking shockingly sluggish.

BEST CHANCE YET! Gomez sprints forward and picks out Hernandez atop the area. The midfielder's first-time effort finds a way through the crowd, but it's straight at Horvath who makes a somewhat uncomfortable stop, before collecting the rebound in the nick of time.

The Americans continue to play with fire, keeping a very high line and they're coming dangerously close to being caught, time and time again. These throughballs are finding their way though, and with a slight improvement in their quality, it could be 1-0 Cuba before they know what hit them.

Green has been the visitors' biggest threat this afternoon. The weather conditions seem to be having an impact on the quality of their play, however. It's very hot and humid here, conditions foreign to many of these USA players.

STAT: USA have won nine successive matches against Cuba across all competitions, dating back to a 1-1 draw in a 1949 qualifying match for the 1950 World Cup.

AWKWARD ONE FOR HORVATH! The rough pitch nearly proves very costly for the Americans as a long-range effort bounces dangerously, finding its way through Horvath, before drifting just beyond the fat post!

The amount of possession Cuba are enjoying has proved to be quite a surprise. They're beaming with confidence, though a lack of quality has let them down in the final third. Nonetheless, the longer it goes on this way, the more they will fancy their chances.

FIRST BIG SAVE! Much better from the visitors, as a fine bit of individual skill from Green carves out their best chance of the match. He glides past defenders and into the area, before forcing a fine save from Sanchez who manages to get down and knock it behind for a corner.

Fans of both sides will be surprised at how even this contest has been through 20 minutes. Many expected a one-sided affair, with the USA's close to full-strength team scoring more than a couple goals, but that's been as far as possible from the case thus far.

STAT: Cuba have lost each of their last five matches against opponents set to compete in the Hex, failing to score a single goal, while conceding 20, since a 0-0 draw with Trinidad and Tobago in the 2014 Caribbean Cup.

OFFSIDE AGAIN! Trying to hold his run there was Maikel Reyes, but he's just caught a step behind the last defender as the ball is played through. USA looking a bit stretched here and Klinsmann doesn't look at all happy on the touchline.

NICKED OFF THE WOODWORK! Alberto Gomez is sprung through behind the defence, via a clever dink over the top, and his half-volley grazes the top of the bar before sailing behind. It was a great effort from the Cuban, but it wouldn't have counted anyhow as the offside flag was raised.

The Americans are struggling to generate much in attack, partially due to the pitch quality, but also because of the wealth of red shirts in defence. Cuba have so many bodies behind the ball and they've done well to keep their shape through the opening stages here in Havana.

The pitch quality here is beyond abysmal. It hardly looks like it's maintained, but for those familiar with CONCACAF, this is a common tactic used by these Central American nations to amplify the homefield advantage.

STAT: Since ending the Copa America Centenario with successive defeats, the United States have bounced back with consecutive victories, outscoring their opponents 10-0 in their last two matches.

Pulisic and Altidore are both victims of terrible challenges in the early stages of this match. If this sort of approach continues for Cuba, the USA's main concern will be escaping without any injuries, especially considering many of these players have the MLS playoffs right around the corner.

D. Urgelles

Yellow Card

Yellow card David Urgelles Soler

USA start to show a bit more urgency and manage to win the game's first corner. Stout marking from the set-piece sees Cuba defend the threat admirably, however, before breaking with confidence - though the final ball eludes them on the counter.

Wonderfully lively start to proceedings in Havana as the two sides exchange attacks. Cuba find a wealth of space with the USA caught committing bodies forward, but a stray touch sees the chance come to nothing. Nonetheless, a source of encouragement for them.

AND WE'RE OFF! USA in white with blue trim, get us underway, attacking left to right.

It's a beautiful afternoon in Havana, and there's a wealth of American fans in attendance to cheer on the Stars and Stripes. It's a great sight to see, these two nations getting along and setting an example for a wider audience.

John Brooks and Geoff Cameron are back to playing together in the centre of defence, with Jurgen Klinsmann going back to the defensive core he relied heavily upon during the Copa America Centenario. Molde keeper Ethan Horvath starts in goal, earning his first international cap.

Jozy Altidore and Bobby Wood is the preferred partnership up top, and they will be flanked by a pair of young, exciting Bundesliga talents in Christian Pulisic and Julian Green. The latter makes his first appearance for the national team since November 2014.

SUBS: Bingham, Yarbrough, Birnbaum, Chandler, Gonzalez, Arriola, Gooch, Kitchen, Williams, Morris, Wondolowski.

USA (4-4-2): Horvath; Yedlin, Brooks, Cameron, Johnson; Green, Bradley, Kljestan, Pulisic; Altidore, Wood.

CONFIRMED TEAM NEWS:

The Hex is the fifth round of qualifying in CONCACAF, but Cuba’s dreams of reaching Russia 2018 were dashed long ago, eliminated in the second round by Curacao in June 2015. Back to the drawing board for them.

The final stage of qualifying, referred to as the Hex, commences in November. It features the final six remaining Concacaf sides, with the top three qualifying for Russia 2018, while the fourth heads to a play-off against the fifth-placed Asian side.

Today the United States begin preparations for the final stage of World Cup qualifying. It’s far from a formidable test for Jurgen Klinsmann’s side, but an opportunity nonetheless to work out the kinks.

Friendly or not, this is something of a landmark occasion between two nations separated by contrasting political ideologies, as the United States voluntarily take to Cuban soil for an exhibition match for the first time since 1947.

Hello and welcome to live coverage from the Estadio Pedro Marrero in Havana as Cuba host USA in this international friendly between CONCACAF foes.

Cuba v United States Live Commentary, 2016/10/07

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