From Deseret News archives:
U.S. game makes soccer king in baseball-crazy Cuba
The United States, ranked 28th in the world and trying to earn a spot in its sixth straight World Cup, is making its first trip to the communist-run island since a 5-2 exhibition loss in 1947.
"Cuba-U.S. is always a classic in any sport," Cuba goalkeeper Odelin Molina said. "The fans will be excited to have a World Cup team here, but the fact that it's the United States makes it so much more exciting."
Since that match in Havana 61 years ago, the United States has gone 5-0-1 against Cubans, outscoring them 13-1 in four matches since 1998. But when the teams met in the first round of the 2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup, they were tied before Landon Donovan's 87th-minute goal sparked the United States to a 4-1 win at Seattle.
U.S. coach Bob Bradley has praised Cuba, saying it's national team strikes a balance between the kind of athleticism common in Caribbean soccer and the finesse of a more Latin American style. The Americans were somewhat limited in their ability to gather firsthand information on the Cuban team.
"We have been able accumulate DVDs,"' Bradley said. "Our pure ability to send somebody Cuba for scouting is not that easy."
The T&T game failed to inspire the fan base of this baseball-crazy nation, drawing only about 1,500 spectators to decrepit Pedro Marrero Stadium, which is plagued by a crumbling roof that litters some seats with debris, and a bare-bones lighting system erected only weeks ago.
Cuba's players insist Saturday night's contest will be different.
"The stadium will be full," midfielder Jaime Colome said. "It's a game that's very important."
A sellout shouldn't be hard. Pedro Marrero's official capacity is around 20,000, though far fewer fans are actually needed to fill it because officials don't open large sections of more-remote seating.
Comments
- Tigers vs. Miners by the numbers 2:32 a.m.
- Springville vs. Dixie by the numbers 2:25 a.m.
- Wasatch vs. Juan Diego numbers 2:22 a.m.
- Mustangs vs. Tbirds by the numbers 2:02 a.m.
- Nuggets win after clock review 1:41 a.m.
- Robbery ends poorly for one suspect 1:20 a.m.
- Wednesday on TV 12:59 a.m.
- Integration is possible on TV 12:59 a.m.
- Herbert talks land issues in D.C. 12:59 a.m.
- Developer looking to buy RSL share 12:58 a.m.
- Utah group finds homes for orphans
- Pratt pleads not guilty to sex charges
- Y. tight ends talented tandem
- Jazz blow big lead, hang on
- Utes get extra motivation
- Senators want food tax restored
- Hair-pulling raises more questions
- Lobo land like home for BYU lineman
- BYU soccer incident still popular
- U. hopes to keep clicking
- House passes health care bill
265 - TCU showdown has big implications
188 - Lobo suspended
185 - Cougars crush hapless Cowboys
155 - Senators want food tax restored
152 - Utah Jazz fall apart against Kings
131 - TCU 4th in AP poll; U. 16th, Y. 22nd
119 - No 'backlash' for pioneers, gays analogy
105 - S.L. vote pending on gay protections
104 - Utes pound winless Lobos
89
Glad that he's finally going to be scouting how to beat TCU. Seems to...
Too anyone who whines about people who EARN high salaries; when was the last...
Don't know bout all that "Texas" stuff, but I'm here to tell you people, that...
Gorbachev was a brilliant leader and single most important individual in...
It buys votes from every irresponsible, lazy American in order to keep the...
My fear is the damage to the economy adding trillions of dollars to the...
I don't know, Ak can be horrible too, there are those times when he only...
Utah 24, TCU 21
You are so right about the BS of these 3 radio clowns!
And some of you out there could care less if we give up our freedoms as long...



You can be the first to comment on this story.