Running Time Diary: Cuba-USA

Thoughts on an ugly American victory

By Mark Goodman

Well, I had nothing better to do Saturday night, so I figured I�d sit down with the ol� laptop and jot down some thoughts on the World Cup qualifier between the United States and Cuba in Havana.

Here�s what transpired:

Minute 1 � It�s absolutely pouring buckets in Havana, but the pitch appears to be in decent shape � certainly better than I would have expected. The stadium lighting, however� not so much. As Landon Donovan might say, it looks like they�re playing on Mars.

5 � One of the commentators, JP Dellacamera, points out the US have kept four straight clean sheets since the friendly against Spain. Ah, the wonders of CONCACAF football.

6 � DaMarcus Beasley goes to take a corner�and pretty much disappears into pure darkness.

8 � Clint Dempsey gets his first touch of the match. Remember him? Yeah, I�m beginning to wonder if Fulham supporters don�t, either.

9 � We can�t be bothered to bring Freddy Adu or Jozy Altidore, but we can start Brian Ching up top�really, Coach Bob? When are we planning to blood our young players in some meaningful matches? The Confederations Cup? The next Gold Cup? The 2014 World Cup? Ever?

15 � Dempsey makes a nice run through a pair of Cuban defenders, only to scuff his shot well wide. I like him in that attacking midfield position that allows him to run at defenders. Someday, I�d like to see Clint, Freddy Adu and Landon Donovan together in a 4-2-3-1 with Altidore up top and Michael Bradley and Maurice Edu behind. Not that you asked.

23 � Frankie Hejduk, our 76-year old right back, sent in a nice cross there, only for Cuban keeper Odelin Molina to knock it away and get fouled in the process.

26 � Yes, I did omit Beasley from my preferred lineup two points ago. I don�t know what�s happened with him, but I just don�t think he�s that impressive anymore. Three years ago, he was starting in the Dutch Cup final and Champions League semifinals for PSV. Now, he�s kicking around the Scottish Premier League � Europe�s answer to MLS.

28 � Gooch just took a pass with nobody near him, stood there, bobbled it, and gave it away. Those Chelsea and Real Madrid rumors two years ago were a joke, right?

30 � Beasley just sent a great ball over the top to Ching at the penalty spot. Ching�s first touch goes 10 yards in front of him � I like to call that the �MLS Special� � and his second touch brings it over the line for a goal kick. Mamma mia.

33 � Edu just Gooched the ball to Silvio Minoso, whose shot is deflected for a Cuba corner.

40 � GOAL! Alright, it wasn�t pretty, but we�ll take it. Gooch launches a long ball into the box, it takes a couple fortuitous bounces toward Ching, who managed to touch it toward Dempsey. The former Rev slots it home for the 1-0 lead.

45+1 � The U.S. was starting to look like a real football team there � six passes in a row � before Beasley gets it stuck on his feet and loses it.

Halftime � It hasn�t been free and flowing, but three points is looking like a good bet right now. Even with some of the extra possession we�re giving them, Cuba doesn�t look close to scoring.

Right before the second half � Flipped over to the Revs game: Columbus 3, New England 0, 77th minute. I guess playing a match every three days over the course of six weeks is bad for a team.

46 � Roberto Linares nearly beats Howard from distance. That was close.

49 � Heviel Cordovez falls over in the vicinity of Gooch in the box; the ref isn�t buying it. Good thing Markus Merk isn�t here � he�d have given that. Nonetheless, the Cubans are getting a foothold on this game.

57 � Alain Cervantes unleashes a rocket from the left side of the box. Howard makes a good save and does even better to hold onto it with two Cubans bearing down on him.

59 � Edu lets it go from 30 and beats Molina, but the shot is wide. Edu�s had a good, lively game tonight.

62 � Beasley beats Molina to a through ball in the box and promptly misses the open net by 10 yards. A recovering defender got back to rush the shot a bit, but still, Beasley has to do better.

66 � The U.S. has tightened up again defensively, but the attack is going a bit stale. It might be time for Coach Bob to make a change.

67 � Right as I typed that, Donovan sends Beasley through, but the latter was offside. No matter � Beasley�s shot went wide, anyway.

69 � Michael Bradley Gooches it to Cervantes, but nothing comes of it.

75 � Cuba gets away with a blatant handball in the box as Beasley tried to cut it back against a sliding defender. That should�ve been a penalty.

77 � Sacha Kljestan comes on for Dempsey, who had a pretty good match tonight, highlighted by a well-taken goal.

82 � Not much to write about here; this game is coming to a grinding halt.

87 � Some of the lights just went out at the stadium, but play is going to go on. This is starting to look like a neighborhood pickup game.

88 � Yeniel Marquez heads a free kick goalward � not sure how he saw it with the lack of lighting � and Howard has to make a fingertip save. That was close.

90 � Coach Bob knows he gets three subs per game, right? Anyway, three minutes of injury time are added on.

90+3 � Donovan finds Kljestan bombing down the right wing, and Kljestan finds Ching in the box for a clean shot. Molina saves.

Full time � Cuba 0, USA 1. That wasn�t exactly the best display of football, but the bottom line is we got three points on the road in miserable conditions. I�m a little torn right now as to how I should feel here: a win is a win, but that was somewhat unconvincing. The U.S. played magnificently three months ago at Giants Stadium in a 0-0 draw against Argentina � where did that form go?

Next up: Trinidad and Tobago, Wednesday at 8 p.m.