HOUSTON, Texas – Canada defeated Cuba 4-2 in Group D of the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup group stage on Tuesday night at Shell Energy Stadium in Houston, Texas.
With the result, Canada qualifies to the quarterfinals as the second placed team from Group D and will face the United States on Sunday. Cuba departs following three defeats in the group stage.
The opening goal came from the penalty spot in the 21’ after Junior Hoilett had a cross blocked by an Eduardo Hernandez handball. Hoilett stepped up to the marker and put it past GK Sandy Sanchez for the Canada lead and his sixth Gold Cup goal – tying Dwayne De Rosario, Jonathan David and Lucas Cavallini for the all-time lead in the tournament by a Canadian.
The Canadian contingent extended the lead in the 27’ to 2-0 with a combination through the right side of the field. Cavallini supplied the assist with a pass across the face of goal to Jonathan Osorio.
Cuba’s best attack of the first half came in stoppage time as Maykel Reyes set up a through ball for Luis Paradela, but the forward was taken down in the box by goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair. Luis Paradela converted from the spot in the 45+4’ to cut the deficit, obtaining his first Gold Cup goal in the process.
Canada tallied a third goal in the 47’ after a dropped save from Sanchez. Jayden Nelson was there to clean up the play, following a blocked shot on Cavallini, to get his second goal with the senior national team and first in an official competition.
Yasnier Matos attempted a shot at the edge of the box in the 50’ as Cuba made a push to get back within one.
Liam Millar made it four goals for Canada from a corner kick in the 62’ following a goalkeeper substitution for Cuba. It marked a first international goal for the 23-year-old.
Cuba were awarded another chance from the penalty spot as Reyes converted in the 89’. It is a second Gold Cup goal for Reyes and first since the 2015 edition.
From there, Canada saw things out to book their quarterfinal spot.
