BALTIMORE, Md. (July 18th, 2015-)One month ago Clint Dempsey was probably at the lowest points in his professional career. After having been served a three match ban by Major League Soccer, he lost the title of captain of the United States Men’s National Team. For some players that is the beginning of the end of their international career. But for Clint it appears that the book is not yet closed. On Saturday he procured his first-ever hat trick for the United States leading his squad past Cuba by the score of 6-0 and into the semi-finals of the Gold Cup.
Dempsey’s three goals coupled with goals by Gyassi Zardes, Aron Johansson, and Omar Gonzalez would lead to the single biggest victory for any team in Gold Cup Quarterfinals history. It was also the United States third shutout of this tournament.
Cuban defender Daniel Luis taking on USA midfielder Alejandro Bedoya (Photo Credit: CONCACAF)
Having been criticized for not playing a full match thus far in the tournament, it appeared that Jurgen Klinsmann’s side wanted to put this game away early. In the third minute, defender Timothy Chandler placed a cross in for Dempsey to head past Cuban goalkeeper Diosvelis Guerra. Beyond the assist, Chandler had a much improved game against Cuba, following the Cuban forward Maikel Reyes and making several quality clears.
The United States would add another in the 15th minute when defender Fabian Johnson would curl a cross into Zardes on the backpost. The goal was Zardes’ second of his international career and first at the Gold Cup.
The Cuban attack was repeatedly stymied by a high press from the United States. Gonzalez and fellow center-back Ventura Alvarado limited to Cuba’s opportunities to mostly long distance shots or at bad angles. Their best opportunity in the first-half came in the 29th minute when midfielder Jorge Luis Corrales whipped a shot from outside the eighteen yard box that went just over the bar.
Before Cuba could mount another attack, the U.S. would make it 3-0. In the 32 minute Johansson would hit a chip shot over an unsuspecting Guerra to give him his fourth international goal. Credit to midfielder Michael Bradley for picking out Johansson with the long ball in space.
The United States would add another just before the end of the half with Gonzalez scoring his first-ever international goal. Bradley’s corner in the 43rd minute would find Johansson on the back post. Although he could not finish his chance the AZ Alkmaar striker was able to head it to an open Gonzalez to put the game at 4-0.
Even at 4-0 the U.S. was still looking for more in the second half. They were assisted by Cuban defender Angel Horta in the 63rd minute after he fouled Johansson in the penalty box. Dempsey would get his second a minute later hitting a low shot just beyond the reach of Guerra.
Dempsey would finish off his hat trick in the 78th minute with a high shot over the head of Guerra. Once again, it was Bradley providing the service with a perfectly timed pass from the inside of his right foot. Clint did need to go around defender Yasmany Lopez but had enough time to make it count.
For the Cuba loss obviously eliminates them from Gold Cup competition. Having already been eliminated from the 2018 World Cup by Curacao last month, they turn their attention to Olympic qualifying with a match against Jamaica’s U-23 side on August 15th in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
Meanwhile for the United States their goal of clinching a second consecutive Gold Cup is very much alive. They will play the winner of Jamaica/Haiti on Wednesday in the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.
