Cuba and Belize prepare to play their final opening round games in Group C of the CONCACAF Gold Cup and while both teams have struggled at times through 2 matches, there is still plenty to play for.
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A win for either team will keep slim hope alive of advancement to the quarterfinal round. The United States and Costa Rica are a perfect two-for-two in their first round contests but despite the lack of victories, Cuba and Belize still have a chance to move on.
When and Where to Watch Gold Cup Match
Cuba and Belize will meet on Tuesday, July 16th from Rentschler Field in East Hartford, Connecticut. The match is set to begin at 5:30pm, EST with television coverage available on the FOX Soccer channel.
Those choosing to watch the game via on-line live stream can do so by visiting FOX Soccer 2 Go.
Match Preview
The Cuban national team dropped its tournament opener against Costa Rica in a game that saw the team struggle mightily on the offensive end. They were able to fire off 14 shots throughout the game but only a Jose Alfonso Pita attempt in the 85th minute had a real chance of splitting the pipes.
Suffering a 3-0 defeat to one of the top 2 teams in the group, Cuba was also lackluster on the defensive end. Costa Rican scorer Michael Barrantes was brilliant in the opener, recording goals at the 50 and 76-minute marks to propel his team to victory.
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It was more of the same for Cuba in match No. 2 as this time the United States proved to be too much to handle. Dropping the contest 4-1, Cuba slipped toward the bottom half of the pool behind the U.S. and Cuba.
While Cuba certainly struggled in the opener, Belize had an extremely tough time with the United States.
Surrendering six goals to their opponents in a 6-1 loss, the Belizean nationals also watched as USMNT striker Chris Wondolowski record a first-half hat trick. Though they were never expected to be a major factor in Group C, most thought Belize had the talent to avoid major blowouts like the one suffered against the United States.
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Belize put forth a much stronger effort the next time out against Costa Rica.
Not allowing a single goal from the Costa Rican offensive unit, Belizean defender Dalton Eiley put one through his own net for the only goal of the game in the 49th minute. The 1-0 loss was heartbreaking for sure, but Belize showed the ability to compete against one of the top teams in the tournament and bounce back from tough losses.
The problem facing both Cuba and Belize heading into Tuesday night's showdown is that while both teams can advance to the next round with a victory, a big win will be needed since the goal differential in the standings is a whopping minus-six.
The top 2 third place teams in the tournament will advance to the next stage and if one of those teams is to come from Group C, Cuba or Belize will need a huge offensive showing.
Wrap Up
Catch all the action between Cuba and Belize on Tuesday, July 16th at 5:30pm, EST. Television coverage will be provided by the FOX Soccer channel while an on-line live stream can be found by visiting FOX Soccer 2 Go.
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