NationalMatches Men's National Team vs Cuba
July 04, 2023 | Kickoff: 06:30PM ET
[2023-07] Concacaf Gold Cup
Men's National Team

Men's National Team

4 - 2

Cuba

Cuba

Houston, Texas | Shell Energy Stadium

Attendance: 20002

  • 89'

    Maykel Reyes

  • Dominick Zator

    88'

  • Dominick Zator
    Zac McGraw

    83'
  • 77'

    Mario Ernesto Peñalver Ibáñez

  • 73'

    Daniel Rafael Díaz Quiala
    Willian Pozo-Venta

  • Jacen Russell-Rowe
    Ali Ahmed

    69'

  • Scott Kennedy
    Lucas Cavallini

    69'
  • 69'

    Romario Torrez Gutiérrez
    Modesto Méndez

  • Victor Loturi
    David Junior Hoilett

    69'

  • Liam Millar

    61'
  • 61'

    Nelson Johnston
    Sandy Sánchez

  • Jayden Nelson

    47'
  • 46'

    Mario Ernesto Peñalver Ibáñez
    Jorge Luis Corrales

  • 45+2'

    Luis Paradela

  • 36'

    Jorge Luis Corrales

  • Jayden Nelson
    Moïse Bombito

    33'

  • Jonathan Osorio

    27'

  • David Junior Hoilett

    21'

Timeline

Men's National Team
  • KO

    KO

  • 21 ' | David Junior Hoilett

  • 27 ' | Jonathan Osorio

  • 33 ' | Jayden Nelson - Moïse Bombito

  • 36 ' | Jorge Luis Corrales

  • 45+2 ' | Luis Paradela

  • HT

    HT

  • 46 ' | Mario Ernesto Peñalver Ibáñez - Jorge Luis Corrales

  • 47 ' | Jayden Nelson

  • 61 ' | Nelson Johnston - Sandy Sánchez

  • 61 ' | Liam Millar

  • 69 ' | Victor Loturi - David Junior Hoilett

  • 69 ' | Romario Torrez Gutiérrez - Modesto Méndez

  • 69 ' | Scott Kennedy - Lucas Cavallini

  • 69 ' | Jacen Russell-Rowe - Ali Ahmed

  • 73 ' | Daniel Rafael Díaz Quiala - Willian Pozo-Venta

  • 77 ' | Mario Ernesto Peñalver Ibáñez

  • 83 ' | Dominick Zator - Zac McGraw

  • 88 ' | Dominick Zator

  • 89 ' | Maykel Reyes

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Cuba

Match Report

“We’ve grown through three very different games and will use the experiences as a foundation for the Quarterfinal,” said John Herdman, Canada Soccer’s Men’s National Team Head Coach. “It’s a big moment for this group of players. Some will play their first derby match against USA while for others it’s a chance to reach another Gold Cup Semifinal. The motivation is there for sure.”

Canada Soccer’s Men’s National Team defeated Cuba 4:2 in the last group stage match at the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup. With the win, Canada finishes second in Group D and advances to the quarterfinals against the USA.

Team Captain Junior Hoilett opened the scoring in the 21st minute, while teammate Jonathan Osorio added his first tournament goal five minutes later. Cuba pulled one back with a stoppage-time goal from the penalty spot at the end of the first half. Canada would hit Cuba with a quick punch as substitute Jayden Nelson scored two minutes into the second half. Liam Millar scored his first senior team goal for Canada in the 61st minute to put the Reds up 4:1. Similar to the first half’s end, Cuba would score a single goal late in the half. This time a controversial handball on Dominick Zator led to Cuba’s penalty shot in the 89th minute.

It was a positive start for Canada, who were focused on grabbing an early goal and controlling the match. The team was inches away from doing so in the match’s early moments.

A string of Canadian combination plays down the left flank exposed gaps in the Cuban defence, one of which sent Ali Ahmed into the 18-yard box with loads of space. Ahmed skipped a pass across the face of the goal to find Jonathan Osorio wide-open at the back post. Outstretched, Osorio hit the ball off the crossbar and down onto the goal line. While the attempt was originally ruled as no goal, a lengthy VAR review showed the ball had crossed the goal line but also exposed Osorio as offside.

While Canada controlled the opening 20 minutes, they didn’t have a goal to show for it until Hoilett scored from the penalty spot, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way. The penalty came when Hoilett beat his defender down the left side of the 18-yard box and attempted to cut inside. As he flicked the ball towards the goal it struck the hand of a Cuban defender and the referee was quick to award the penalty.

Canada would score its second of the night in the 26th minute.

When the Cuban midfielder Eduardo Hernández tried dancing around Hoilett with a Maradonna skill move, he was tackled by the Canadian. Fraser picked up the loose ball, played a one-two-passing play with Hoilett around Hernández and then sprayed a splitting pass to Millar. Millar held up play and played his through-pass to a darting Cavallini. Now inside the 18-yard box, Cavallini squared his pass to the back post to a wide-open Jonathan Osorio. Osorio tucked away his shot, adding his name to the scoresheet, irrefutable by VAR and offside.

While Cuba pulled one back just before halftime, Canada hit Cuba with a quick punch less than two minutes after the break. When Laryea squared a pass into the 18-yard box to Millar, he produced the slightest of touches to an incoming Cavallini. Cuban goalkeeper Sandy Sánchez quickly smothered Cavallini’s shot but Sánchez failed to gain control. A quick and attentive Nelson jumped to the loose ball and tapped in Canada’s third goal of the match.

The pressure would continue in the 61st minute. Cuba subbed Sánchez for backup goalkeeper Nelson Johnston. Millar would score his first Canadian goal on the next play.

Hoilett’s out-swinging corner teased Johnston away from his goal. As the Keeper crept forward — falling into temptation, lurking to punch the ball — Millar rose above his opponents and converted his header past the defender and goalkeeper into an empty net.

The 4-2 win is coupled with Victor Loturi’s Canadian debut. Loturi, who plays club football for Scottish side Ross County in the Scottish Premiership, entered the match in the 69th minute and had a positive impact for Canada.

Canada will now battle a quarterfinal rivalry against the USA on Sunday at 19:30 EST.
READ MORE +

Starting 11

Richie Laryea
Richie Laryea
Fullback
Dayne St. Clair
Dayne St. Clair
Goalkeeper
Liam Fraser
Liam Fraser
Midfielder
Kamal Miller
Kamal Miller
Centre back
Lucas Cavallini
Lucas Cavallini
Forward
David Junior Hoilett
David Junior Hoilett
Midfielder
Liam Millar
Liam Millar
Forward
Moïse Bombito
Moïse Bombito
Midfielder
Zac McGraw
Zac McGraw
Centre back
Ali Ahmed
Ali Ahmed
Fullback
Jonathan Osorio
Jonathan Osorio
Midfielder

Subs

Dominick Zator
Dominick Zator
Centre back
Jayden Nelson
Jayden Nelson
Forward
Victor Loturi
Victor Loturi
Midfielder
Jacen Russell-Rowe
Jacen Russell-Rowe
Forward
Scott Kennedy
Scott Kennedy
Centre back

Did Not Feature

Zachary Brault-Guillard
Zachary Brault-Guillard
Fullback
Steven Vitória
Steven Vitória
Centre back
David Wotherspoon
David Wotherspoon
Midfielder
Jacob Shaffelburg
Jacob Shaffelburg
Forward
Tom McGill
Tom McGill
Goalkeeper
Charles-Andreas Brym
Charles-Andreas Brym
Forward

Newsfeed

Canada Soccer Canada Soccer
Jul 04, 2023 | KO

Match started between Men's National Team and Cuba

Canada Soccer Canada Soccer
Jul 04, 2023 | 21'

Men's National Team penalty kick successfully converted by David Junior Hoilett

1 - 0

Canada Soccer Canada Soccer
Jul 04, 2023 | 27'

Men's National Team goal by Jonathan Osorio (assist by Lucas Cavallini)

2 - 0

Canada Soccer Canada Soccer
Jul 04, 2023 | 33'

Men's National Team Substitution of Moïse Bombito by Jayden Nelson

Moïse Bombito

Jayden Nelson

Canada Soccer Canada Soccer
Jul 04, 2023 | 45+2'

Cuba penalty kick successfully converted by Luis Paradela

2 - 1

Canada Soccer Canada Soccer
Jul 04, 2023 | HT

Halftime

Canada Soccer Canada Soccer
Jul 04, 2023 | 47'

Men's National Team goal by Jayden Nelson

3 - 1

Canada Soccer Canada Soccer
Jul 04, 2023 | 61'

Cuba Substitution of Sandy Sánchez by Nelson Johnston

Sandy Sánchez

Nelson Johnston

Canada Soccer Canada Soccer
Jul 04, 2023 | 61'

Men's National Team goal by Liam Millar

4 - 1

Canada Soccer Canada Soccer
Jul 04, 2023 | 69'

Men's National Team Substitution of David Junior Hoilett by Victor Loturi

David Junior Hoilett

Victor Loturi

Canada Soccer Canada Soccer
Jul 04, 2023 | 69'

Cuba Substitution of Modesto Méndez by Romario Torrez Gutiérrez

Modesto Méndez

Romario Torrez Gutiérrez

Canada Soccer Canada Soccer
Jul 04, 2023 | 69'

Men's National Team Substitution of Lucas Cavallini by Scott Kennedy

Lucas Cavallini

Scott Kennedy

Canada Soccer Canada Soccer
Jul 04, 2023 | 69'

Men's National Team Substitution of Ali Ahmed by Jacen Russell-Rowe

Ali Ahmed

Jacen Russell-Rowe

Canada Soccer Canada Soccer
Jul 04, 2023 | 89'

Cuba penalty kick successfully converted by Maykel Reyes

4 - 2

READ MORE POSTS +

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