Americans Snatch Rainsoaked Win in Cuba
Published 9/6/2008 8:15:43 PM by Shane Barrow from soccermogul
With Hurricane Ike looming to the east, faulty lighting and a rainsoaked pitch welcomed the first American visit to Cuba since 1947. Clint Dempsey scored late in the first half and the United States held on to beat Cuba 1-0 in a sloppy and lowenergy World Cup qualifier Saturday night.
Half of the lights at rain-soaked Pedro Marrero Stadium went out in the 86th minute, causing a brief delay before the conclusion, during which Cuba nearly tied it off a free kick. A deflection off Carlos Bocanegra called Tim Howard into action as he went down low to make the save. The US held on in the gloom to win its third straight road qualifier and take control of Group One with six points.
In the 39th minute, Oguchi Onyewu sent a pass into the box from midfield and Dempsey jumped up with two Cuban defenders, one of whom mistakenly headed the ball straight to Brian Ching. Ching held off a defender and dropped the ball to Dempsey who was all but unmarked when he ripped it into the lower left side of the net from 12 yards out.
Next up for the Americans is Trinidad & Tobago on Wednesday night in Chicago.
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