USA beats Cuba 4-0, advancing to quarterfinals of Concacaf U-20 Championship

CELAYA, Mexico – Two goals on both sides of halftime pushed the U.S. Under-20 Men’s Youth National Team to a comprehensive 4-0 win against Cuba at Estadio Miguel Alemán Valdés on Monday.

With the win, the USA punched its ticket to the quarterfinals of the 2024 Concacaf U-20 Championship, and will now play for top spot in Group A when it faces Costa Rica in Thursday’s group finale.

Ethan Kohler finished a Niko Tsakiris free kick to give the USA the lead after 15 minutes, before Zavier Gozo put home a feed from Taha Habroune in the 26th minute to send the side into halftime with a 2-0 advantage. Habroune got on the score sheet himself in the 58th minute, before substitute Marcos Zambrano finished a nice feed from Sergio Oregel in the first minute of second-half stoppage time to cap the scoring at 4-0.

With two wins from its first two matches, the USA now only needs a draw against Costa Rica in its group finale on Thursday, July 25 to claim top spot in Group A (10:06 p.m. ET; FS1, TUDN and ViX).

GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN

USA – Ethan Kohler (Niko Tsakiris), 15th minute: Set up to the right of the box and about 25 yards from goal, midfielder Tsakiris sent a free kick into the box. Kohler came running toward the near right side of the area, leapt and deflected the free kick past goalkeeper Yirdy Hodelin. USA 1, CUB 0

USA – Zavier Gozo (Taha Habroune), 26th minute: Habroune received the ball at the top of the box. After shaking two defenders to give himself space, he sent a diagonal pass to Gozo streaking down the right side of the area. The midfielder took a touch and then slammed a right-footed shot past the ‘keeper. USA 2, CUB 0

USA – Taha Habroune, 58th minute: Midfielder Sergio Oregel sent a free kick into the wall, but Habroune snuck in behind the defense, collected the ball, and easily slotted it past the goalkeeper. USA 3, CUB 0

USA – Marcos Zambrano (Sergio Oregel), 90+1 minute: Midfielder Cruz Medina played a short corner kick to Oregel, who took a touch toward the top right corner of the box. Oregel then sent a cross into the penalty area toward an onrushing Zambrano, who redirected the ball into the back of the net. USA 4, CUB 0 FINAL.

ADDITIONAL NOTES:

• The USA is now 5W-0L-2D vs. Cuba at the Concacaf U-20 Championship.
• Three different players tallied their first goals for the U20MYNT: Ethan Kohler, Zavier Gozo, and Taha Habroune.
• Nine total players have scored a goal in this tournament.
• Marcos Zambrano has now scored in two matches in the 2024 U-20 Concacaf Championship.
• The USA notched its seventh straight clean sheet in Concacaf U-20 Championship play.
• The U.S. currently has a clean sheet streak of 651 minutes.
• The last goal conceded was an own goal in the 69th minute of the U.S.’s 2-2 draw with Canada on June 20, 2022.

– U.S. UNDER-20 MEN’S YOUTH NATIONAL TEAM MATCH REPORT –

Match: U.S. Under-20 Men’s Youth National Team vs. Cuba
Date: July 22, 2024
Competition: Concacaf U-20 Championship – Group Stage Match 2
Venue: Estadio Miguel Alemán Valdes; Celaya, Mexico
Kickoff: 8:06 p.m. local (10:06 p.m. ET)
Weather: 82 degrees, rainy

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

USA – Ethan Kohler (Niko Tsakiris) 15th minute
USA – Zavier Gozo (Taha Habroune) 26
USA – Taha Habroune 58
USA – Marcos Zambrano (Sergio Oregel) 90+1

Lineups:

USA: 1-Julian Eyestone; 15-Luca Bambino, 3-Nolan Norris (Capt.) (4-Noah Cobb, 46), 5-Stuart Hawkins, 16-Ethan Kohler (2-Aiden Harangi, 37); 14-Taha Habroune, 19-Sergio Oregel, 10-Niko Tsakiris (13-Cruz Medina, 46), 7-Nimfasha Berchimas, 18-Zavier Gozo (11-David Vazquez, 66); 17-Keyrol Figueroa (9-Marcos Zambrano, 73)

Substitutes Not Used: 12-Adam Beaudry, 21-Duran Ferree, 6-Pedro Soma, 8-Brooklyn Raines, 20-Ruben Ramos, Jr.

Head coach: Michael Nsien

CUB: 12-Yirdy Hodelin; 2-Elvis Casonova, 5-Karel Perez (Capt.), 8-Leandro Mena, 16-Norlys Chavez; 10-Michael Camejo, 14-Maikol Vega (4-Walberto León, 76), 20-Samuel Rodriguez (6-Marcos Campos, 68); 7-Aniel Casanova (18-Yordan Castañer, 59), 9-David Pérez (19-Enmanuel Torres, 68), 17-Cristian Mendoza (15-Jade Quiñones, 76)

Substitutes Not Used: 1-Yorlan Urgelles, 21-Yurixander Zayas, 3-Ricardo Polo, 11-Romario Torres, 13-Didier Reinoso,

Head coach: Yuneilys Castillo

Stats Summary: USA / CUB
Shots: 25 / 9
Shots on Goal: 10 / 2
Saves: 2 / 6
Corner Kicks: 8 / 3
Fouls: 16 / 15
Offside: 2 / 1

Misconduct Summary:
CUB – Aneil Casanova (caution) 34th minute
USA – Stuart Hawkins (caution) 39

Officials:
Referee: Filip Dujic (CAN)
Assistant Referee 1: Christopher Wattam (CAN)
Assistant Referee 2: Gabrielle Lemieux (CAN)
Fourth Official: Myriam Marcotte (CAN)
VAR: Marie-soleil Beaudoin (CAN)
AVAR1: Dilla Bradley (GUA)