The United States will complete a dramatic turnaround to top Group A in the inaugural CONCACAF Nations League on Tuesday evening—provided the team defeats host Cuba.
The first round of the Nations League draws to a climactic close, with Gregg Berhalter’s side in need of a win if it wants to leapfrog incumbent group leader Canada and advance.
Cuba vs. USMNT
- Date: Tuesday, November 19
- Start Time: 7:30 PM ET
- TV Channel: FS1
- Live Stream: fuboTV (watch for free)
The Stars and Stripes sit three points off the top of their League A pool, but a 4-1 redemption win over Canada on Friday meant they’ll edge a tiebreaker if the two finish level.
Canada surprised the favorites, 2-0, in Toronto in October, leaving Berhalter’s men in an uncertain spot. However, Gyasi Zardes scored in the 89th minute to complete his brace in the return fixture, leaving the United States ahead 4-3 in its two fixtures against John Herdman’s side.
Cuba suffered a 7-0 hammering when it traveled to the U.S. one month ago. Weston McKennie scored a hat-trick in the first 13 minutes of that meeting, though the 21-year-old hasn’t had a direct goal contribution in 180 minutes played since then.
The Truman Bodden Sports Complex holds a maximum capacity of 3,000, and it’s very likely few of those attending in the Cayman Islands will be rooting for the guests. Berhalter recently spoke to reporters about needing to take Cuba seriously, especially when the team is on the road and the intensity is high.
The United States has only two wins in its last six games, but a run of 10 consecutive victories over Cuba suggests Tuesday’s meeting is its to lose. Cuba has lost the last three of those without managing to score—an aggregate scoreline of 15-0.
The goal is clear for Berhalter’s men: Victory will secure a spot in the Nations League semifinals in June, while a result for Cuba would see them finish second in Group A and end its run through the inaugural tournament.
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