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U.S. smokes Cubans in World Cup qualifier

Sat 11th, October 2008

Washington, D.C. (Sports Network) - DeMarcus Beasley scored twice as the United States men's national team defeated Cuba, 6-1, on Saturday night at RFK Stadium to secure a spot in the last round of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying.

Landon Donovan, Brian Ching, Jozy Altidore and Oguchi Onyewu also had goals for the U.S., which is 6-0 in 2010 World Cup qualifying. In those matches, the U.S. has 20 goals and has allowed just one.

The Americans are unbeaten in seven straight overall, dating back to a 0-0 draw against Argentina on June 8.

The United States continues qualifying on Wednesday at Trinidad and Tobago, and Cuba hosts Guatemala that same day in other match in Group 1.

The U.S., which is 8-2-2 this year, took control of the match early and Donovan set up Clint Dempsey and Michael Bradley in the first six minutes, but neither could convert.

Beasley buried the United States' next chance in the 10th minute, accepting a pass from Sacha Kljestan on the left side of the area before slotting the ball into the side netting inside the right post.

Beasley's goal was his first goal for the United States since June of last year - he missed a significant amount of time due to injury - but the midfielder was just getting started.

He shook off a hard tackle in the 21st minute by Cuba's Luis Villegas and added his second goal in the 30th minute. Although Beasley limped around after the foul, he was back up to speed quickly and made a great run and touch in the box to set up his 17th goal for the U.S.

Donovan delivered the pass to free Beasley and, after Cuba's defense let him go into the area unmarked, he chested the ball down and drove the ball perfectly under Cuba goalie Odelin Molina and into the right side.

Cuba stunned the U.S. a few minutes later when Jenzy Munoz beat Tim Howard with a drive from outside the area that dipped just over the U.S. goalie and under the crossbar.

The United States hadn't allowed a goal in its last six matches and 582 minutes overall. Howard hadn't allowed a goal in his last 449 minutes.

The Americans rebounded nicely from the lapse and Donovan nearly set up another goal when he found Bradley in the 37th minute, but his first touch was bad and his shot was drilled directly at Molina.

Donovan essentially clinched the United States' victory in the 41st minute when Cuba's Yoel Colome picked up his second yellow card and was ejected for a late challenge on the U.S. star.

Donovan did wrap up the match three minutes into the second half, starting his own goal with a pass to Ching, who then passed to defender Heath Pearce on the left. Pearce sent the ball back to Donovan, who made a run to the front of the net, for an easy finish from just a few yards out for his 37th career goal.

Donovan nearly set up another goal in the 56th minute, finding Dempsey with a cross from the right, but he headed directly at Molina with both corners of the net open. Donovan also set up Beasley again minutes later, but he drove a shot into the Cuban goalie.

Beasley started the next goal, taking a free kick from the left side that found Kljestan at the far post. Kljestan headed back across the area and Ching tapped the ball in from just a few yards.

Substitute Altidore nearly scored minutes after entering the match and Donovan narrowly missed his second goal with a free kick in the 77th, but two goals in the closing minutes wrapped up the easy win.

Altidore ran onto a pass from Dempsey on the left side of the area, made a move to lose a defender and slotted inside the near post in the 87th.

Onyewu capped the scoring in the 90th minute to end a play that involved three of the United States' brightest young players. Jose Francisco Torres, who made his U.S. debut, started the play with a pass to Altidore, who passed to Freddy Adu, who delivered the cross for Onyewu to head home.

Cuba, which was missing two players who are likely trying to defect, lost for the fourth time in as many qualifying matches and is the lone team in CONCACAF without a single point in the third round group stage.

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