Canada edged Cuba 4-2 in their final group stage match to advance to the Gold Cup quarter-finals for the fourth straight time on Wednesday.
John Herdman is also the first coach in the history of the national team to transport his team to this stage of the competition three times in a row.
By finishing second in Group D, the maple leaf will have to face the powerful Americans, leaders of Group A and defending champions.
Hoilett scored the game’s first goal in the 21st minute on a penalty shot, beating goalkeeper Sandy Sanchez with a low shot from the left side.
Osorio doubled Canada’s lead in the 26th minute, putting the finishing touches to a superb play. Lucas Cavallini made the pass to Osorio, who was left alone, and he beat Sanchez.
In the added minutes of the first half, Maykel Reyes took the ball from Osorio, before sending it to Luis Paradela. The latter beat goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair, who wanted to come towards the player to take the ball from him. Paradela’s goal reduced the lead to 2-1.
St. Clair replaces Milan Borjan, who was pulled from the tournament on Monday with an undisclosed injury.
Nelson made it 3-1 after just two minutes in the second half. Richie Laryea sent the ball into the penalty area, and Sanchez couldn’t stop the ball. Nelson took the opportunity to score.
Millar scored Canada’s fourth goal in the 61st minute with a header from a corner kick by Hoilett. He beat a defender, before doing the same against Nelson Johnston, who had just replaced Sanchez before the corner kick.
Reyes scored the Cubans’ second goal in the 88th minute of action and made it 4-2.
The Canadians now show a 10-3-2 record against Cuba.
They drew two games to start their tournament, with a 2-2 score against Guadeloupe in Toronto on Thursday, as well as a scoreless duel against Guatemala in Houston on Saturday.
2023-07-05 01:46:01
#Gold #Cup #Canada #defeats #Cuba #meet #USA #quarterfinals #RDS
