U.S. defeats Cuba 4-1
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-07-08 21:17

Landon Donovan saved the United States from a shocking result.

Donovan scored the go-ahead goal on a free kick in the 88th minute, and the United States rallied to beat Cuba 4-1 Thursday night in the Americans' opener of the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Donovan was tackled just outside the penalty box by Cuba's Silvio Pedro Minoso. He then curled the free kick around the wall and past Cuban keeper Odelin Molina.

Two minutes later, DaMarcus Beasley scored, and Donovan got another goal in injury time on a pass from Beasley that made the score look far more lopsided than the competition.

With 24 goals in 65 international appearances. Donovan moved into a tie with Joe-Max Moore for third on the U.S. career scoring list behind Eric Wynalda (34) and Brian McBride.

Donovan scored four goals in the previous meeting with Cuba, a 5-0 U.S. win in the Gold Cup quarterfinals in 2003.

The United States, playing for the first time since its June 8 win at Panama in a World Cup qualifier, improved to 17-0 in group play of the Gold Cup, the championship of soccer's North and Central American and Caribbean region that is played every two years.

Lester More scored in the 18th minute for Cuba, the first goal for the Cubans against the United States since Sept. 21, 1949. The teams have played just four times since.

The U.S. team plays next on Saturday against Canada, which lost 1-0 to Costa Rica.

While the Americans controlled play at the offensive end all night and outshot Cuba 17-5, Clint Dempsey was the only American to score until the final minutes. Dempsey scored in the 45th minute, his second international goal.

Beasley neatly chipped a pass over the Cuban defense to Dempsey, who was just onside. Dempsey chested down the ball and in one motion put a shot into the lower corner of the net, beating Molina.

More continued his torrid goal-scoring pace when he beat goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann in the 18th minute, stunning the paltry crowd of 15,831 with his 11th goal in his last 10 international matches.

Coach Bruce Arena gave some of his inexperienced players a chance against the Cubans, auditions for possible roster spots in future World Cup qualifiers or next year's tournament in Germany. Santino Quaranta, Brad Davis and Jimmy Conrad all started and made their first international appearances.

Donovan started on the sidelines, before entering in the second half.

Oft-injured John O'Brien made just his second appearance for the United States since the 2002 World Cup, his first since an exhibition against Venezuela in Seattle on March 29, 2003.

Cuba's Jaime Colome was given a red card in the 50th minute after a high kick caught Ben Olsen in the throat.

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