Cuba's national soccer team

Santiago de Cuba, June 10 (JIT) - The Cuban national soccer team won 2-0 against its counterpart from Antigua and Barbuda on Thursday night at the Warner Park Football Stadium.

The result gave them three points to take the lead in Group A at the second level of the Concacaf Nations League 2022-2023 on goal difference.

The team coached by Pablo Elier Sanchez showed an associative game superior to the opponent who had no options to face the Cubans. 

The 4-4-2 formation ensured the ball and many options to reach the opponent's goal and even though only two goals were scored, they deserved much more for their dominance.

Luis Javier Paradela ('16) and Onel Hernández ('83), the two strikers of the Pinar del Río coach, ended up scoring for the Cuban victory. 

Once again, the clean sheet was kept despite the absence of Yosel Piedra due to discomfort, who was magnificently replaced by Yunior Yuri Pérez.

"The match was very good for us, we did a very good job in the lines and deserved to win. We played the ball well and the most important thing is that we were able to win," analyzed captain Aricheell Hernández after the match.

"The team was very disciplined in offensive and defensive aspects, the changes revolutionized the game and that is very good. We are very focused and showing a good level for the fourth game, which is very important for us," said Pinar del Río fullback Jorge Luis Corrales.

For his part, defender Carlos Vázquez catalogued the victory and the three points as very important and pondered climbing to the top of the standings.

"Now it's a matter of staying there. We controlled the match although we had some problems in the second half. However, we managed the situations from start to finish as we planned and we are very proud," added the Cuban center-back. 

The next match of the Cubans will be against the same rival on the 12th of this month at the Antonio Maceo stadium in Santiago de Cuba and a victory is expected to keep them at the top of the standings.