US Looks to Advance with win over Cuba

The US mens soccer national team will look to book its spot in the CONCACAF final round of qualifying for South Africa 2010 as it faces huge underdogs Cuba on Saturday evening in Washington DC.  The match will be shown on ESPN Classic at 7pm ET.   The game certainly has all the makings of a blowout for the Americans. Even if Cuba takes a cautious approach, the Americans have shown in their recent home matches a greater ability to break down bunker defenses. Not only does Cuba currently lie at the foot of the Group 1 table with no points to show for their three games, but forward Roberto Linares, one of the few attacking threats the Leones del Caribe possess, is suspended after being ejected in his team's 4-1 loss to Guatemala.  Cuban midfielder Alain Cervantes is one player who impressed during the match in Havana, and Leonel Duarte will likely assume more of the goal scoring burden in the absence of Linares,but there just isn't enough quality in Cuba's team for them to really trouble a US defense that has yet to concede a goal in World Cup qualifying.

American Coach Bob Bradley announced his roster for World Cup qualifiers against Cuba and Trinidad and Tobago, with the inclusion of talents like Freddy Adu, Jozy Altidore, and Francisco Torres set off visions that Bradley would shed his conservative tendencies and give his young studs a chance.  Sure, a player like Torres may see some playing time this weekend, if for no other reason than to lockup the Texan to the US once and for all, and fend off the advances of Mexico. But Saturday's starting XI will likely be similar, if not identical, to the one used a month ago against Trinidad.

If all goes according to plan for the Americans against Cuba, and progress to the hex is assured, expect Bradley to release many of his veteran performers back to their clubs, at which point his crop of young players will be given their chance to shine in this round's two remaining qualifiers.