USMNT won group A of the Gold Cup. -Getty
The United States find themselves in the knock-out stages of the Gold Cup after winning group A. While they have yet to lose a match, the team has not exactly looked great throughout the tournament. They have picked their spots and it has been enough to send them through to the quarterfinals. Fans have to be wondering whether their lapses of play will eventually cost them the tournament.
The good news is that the team has not played their best soccer yet. Could Saturday’s match against Cuba finally be the match where everything comes together? Time will tell. The team will be without striker Jozy Altidore as the team elected not to keep him on the roster for the knock-out stages.
Here is everything you need to know about Saturday’s match against Cuba:
The Basics
Who:
United States vs. Cuba
When:
Saturday, July 18th; 5 PM EST
Channel:
FOX
Where:
M&T Bank Stadium; Baltimore, Maryland
Line:
USA -2.5 (Odds are according to Bovada and are subject to change)
Cuba +2.5
Last Meeting:
Team USA last faced Cuba during the 2013 Gold Cup. The US defeated Cuba 4-1.
United States Preview
The United States won group A before the third match against Panama began. They began the Gold Cup tournament with a 2-1 victory against Honduras. In the second match of group play, they defeated Haiti 1-0. The final match with relatively little to play for ended in a 1-1 draw.
They enter the match against Cuba as heavy favorites, but Cuba has already surprised people by advancing to the knock-out stages. US fans are still waiting to see the United States give a full 90 minute performance.
Cuba Preview
In an unlikely turn of events, Cuba advanced to the knock-out stages of the Gold Cup. They were trounced 6-0 by Mexico in their first match of the tournament. Trinidad & Tobago handed Cuba a 3-0 defeat in their second match.
However, a goal in the 73rd minute against Guatemala would prove to be enough to win the final match of group play and send them through to the next round of the Gold Cup. They enter the tournament as the third team to advance in Group C and find themselves as heavy underdogs in the match against the United States.
