USA downs Cuba, advances to CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying semis

KANSAS CITY, Kansas (Via U.S. Soccer) – The U.S. Under-23 Men’s National Team clinched a spot in the all-important Olympic Qualifying Championship semifinal with a 6-1 win against Cuba at Sporting Park.

The win, combined with the USA’s tournament opening victory against Canada on Thursday secures a top two spot for the team in Group A. With one group game left to play on Tuesday, Oct. 6, against Panama at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colorado, the USA can claim top position in the group. The winners of Saturday’s two semifinals qualify directly for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, while the winner of the third place match will face Colombia in a one-game playoff for a final Olympic berth.

+Read: USMNT roster announced for Gold Cup clash with Mexico, Confederations Cup berth

Jerome Kiesewetter bagged a pair of goals, and was joined on the scoresheet by Emerson Hyndman, Alonso Hernandez, Cameron Carter-Vickers and Matt Miazga. Luis Gil assisted on two of the scores.

The USA was dominant from the first whistle and nearly turned in a shutout, but conceded a consolation goal in the final moments of stoppage time.

Goal Scoring Summary:
USA-Cameron Carter-Vickers (Luis Gil) 16th minute: A foul set the U.S. up with a free kick from the left and Luis Gil stepped up to take it. The midfielder curled a confident ball into the box and Carter-Vickers jumped in front of his defender, rising high to head the ball down into the lower left corner to give the U.S. an early lead. USA 1, CUB 0 (SEE GOAL)

USA-Matt Miazga (Matt Polster) 35th minute: Following a corner kick, Matt Polster collected a half cleared ball out wide on the right and whipped in a strong, curving cross to the far post, where only Miazga could get to it. The center back directed his headed attempt back across goal and into the left side netting to double the USA’s lead. USA 2, CUB 0 (SEE GOAL)

USA-Jerome Kiesewetter (Jordan Morris) 38th minute: Just after the team had scored its second goal, Kiesewetter made it three. It started with Luis Gil, who threaded a ball up to the speedy Jordan Morris. Morris knifed through the box, drawing the goalie to the right side of the box before centering an unselfish pass to Kiesewetter, who tapped in for the third U.S. goal of the game. USA 3, CUB 0 (SEE GOAL)

USA-Jerome Kiesewetter (Marc Pelosi) 49th minute: Morris brought the ball down the left and got it to Marc Pelosi. The defense collapsed on Pelosi and he muscled a cross through the opposition, which found Kiesewetter, who again calmly tapped in for his second goal of the game. USA 4, CUB 0 (SEE GOAL)

USA-Emerson Hyndman (Luis Gil): Luis Gil and Emerson Hyndman combined around the top left corner of the penalty area to set up the score. Hyndman laid it off to Gil, at the left edge of the box and Gil quickly back-heeled to the breaking Hyndman. Hyndman confidently smashed a shot into the right corner to score his first goal with the U-23 MNT. USA 5, CUB 0(SEE GOAL)

USA-Alonso Hernandez (Gboly Ariyibi): Ariyibi made a move to the right of the box and crossed back to Hernandez who was freed on the left. With ample time, Hernandez took a controlling touch and blasted a shot past the diving ‘keeper into the lower left corner USA 6, CUB 0 (SEE GOAL)

CUB-Daniel Luis: In the closing moments of the game, Luis took a chance from a distance, which was well placed and bent into the upper left corner. USA 6, CUB 1 FINAL (SEE GOAL)

-U.S. Under-23 Men’s National Team Match Report-

Match: U.S. U-23 MNT vs. Cuba
Date: Oct. 3, 2015
Competition: 2015 CONCACAF Men’s Olympic Qualifying Championship – Group A
Venue: Sporting Park; Kansas City, Kansas
Kickoff: 4 p.m. CT
Attendance: 3,755
Weather: 67 Degrees; Clear

Scoring Summary:               1          2          F
USA                                                    3          3          6
CUB                                        0          1          1

USA – Cameron Carter-Vickers (Luis Gil)     17th minute
USA – Matthew Miazga (Matthew Polster)    36
USA – Jerome Kiesewetter (Jordan Morris)  38
USA – Jerome Kiesewetter (Marc Pelosi)     49
USA – Emerson Hyndman (Luis Gil)             69
USA – Alonso Hernandez (Gboly Ariyibi)      76
CUB – Daniel Luis                                          90+3

Lineups:
USA: 1-Zack Steffen; 13-Matt Polster (20-Gboly Ariyibi, 60), 3-Matt Miazga, 4-Cameron Carter-Vickers, 2-Boyd Okwuonu; 10-Luis Gil, 6-Wil Trapp (capt.), 15-Marc Pelosi, 8-Emerson Hyndman; 17-Jerome Kiesewetter (19-Maki Tall,53), 9-Jordan Morris (11-Alonso Hernandez, 60)
Subs Not Used: 5-Will Packwood, 7-Dillon Serna, 14-Fatai Alashe, 16-Gedion Zelalem, 18-Charlie Horton
Head Coach: Andi Herzog

CUB: 1-Sandy Mustelier; 2-Andy Ruiz, 6-Yosel Guillen, 15-Adrian Diz Pe, 18-Abel Colon; 4-Yolexis Mora (17-Pedro Anderson, 69), 7-Arichel Mora, 16-Daniel Luis, 19-David Soler; 9-Maykel Azcuy, 10-Hector Sanchez (20-Osmany Capote, 71)
Subs Not Used: 12-Elier Pozo, 13-Delvis Lumpuy
Head Coach: Raul Gonzalez

Stats Summary: USA / CUB
Shots: 16 / 6
Shots on Goal: 8 / 2
Saves: 1 / 2
Corner Kicks: 2 / 14
Offside: 2 / 1
Fouls: 7 / 6

Misconduct Summary:
CUB – David Urgelles (caution)         15th minute

Officials:
Referee: Juan Carlos Guerra (GUA)
1st Referee: Ronaldo De La Cruz (GUA)
2nd Referee: Israel Valenciano (MEX)
4th official: Luis Santander (MEX)