Cuban national soccer team
Havana, November 16 (JIT) - The Cuban national soccer team scored a resounding 4-2 victory over the Dominican Republic, despite playing on a foreign field without several of its starters.
The team coached by Pablo Elier Sánchez played at the Pepsi Arena de Cibao, in Santiago de los Caballeros, with a formation that included new players such as Raico Arozarena, Greibel Palma and Christian Flores.
It was difficult for the Cubans to come out and play, due to the high pressure of the rival, but they did not give up the style practiced by the coach from Pinar del Río. As the minutes went by, they became more dynamic, although with more losses than desired, which resulted in some dangerous counterattacks by the rivals.
Ronaldo Vásquez's goal in the 29th minute forced the Leones del Caribe to come back. However, this did not pose any major difficulties and three minutes later, in a collective play, came the equalizer.
Paradela sent a deep ball that William Pozo crossed high into the area from the left and Maykel Reyes headed the ball to Flores.
After the break, the Antilleans took the lead with a long-range shot by Pozo that the local goalkeeper could not stop on his way to the net.
The actions were equalized with a penalty that the television broadcast was in charge of revealing as an error by the referee. Edwin Reyes was in charge of scoring to make it 2-2.
The Cuban national team was playing better, even though it did not provide the desired image. They took advantage of the disengagement of the Dominicans, who have just begun to form a group led by Cuban Walter Benítez, substitute for Iñaki Bea, who only a few days ago left his post.
From a set piece came the third for Cuba, headed in by Carlos Vásquez, who made amends for the penalty kick unfairly charged against him.
Two minutes from the end, Aricheell Hernández, with little time on the pitch, unleashed a guided missile that slipped into the opponent's goal for the final 2-4.
The entry of players such as Daniel Díaz, Carlos Denilson Milanés, Mario Peñalver and Roberney Caballero into the arena is more for anecdote than for analysis, due to their limited incidence and number of minutes. However, it is positive that they stepped on the field as a group.
It was not the most colorful match of the Cuban senior team, but they were convincing. Perhaps that is the best news: with the lack of indispensable men in the scheme, without giving the best face, the team was able to score.
This makes us think about the progress and the guarantee of the replacement. I insist that the rival was not exactly the most difficult one, but the boys went out to do their part and achieved it in a remarkable way.
