Cuba loses Group C Gold Cup opener to Costa Rica

Caribbean champions Cuba were beaten 0-3 by Costa Rica in their Group C opener of the CONCACAF Gold Cup at JELD-WEN Field.

Michael Barrantes brace in the second half lifted Costa Rica Tuesday night after the two teams battled to a scoreless first half against a stingy Cuban defence, reports CMC.

However, Barrantes broke through the defence in the 52nd minute, taking an attempted clearance off his chest and firing a side volley into the net from 17 metres to put the ‘Ticos’ in front.

Jairo Arrieta doubled Costa Rica’s lead in the 71st minute, by pouncing on his own saved point-blank shot from a cross.

Six minutes later, Barrantes added his second goal by tucking the ball to the right of goalkeeper Odelin Molina from 26 metres.

Barrantes nearly had a hat-trick, but his goal in the 67th minute was called back when Alvaro Saborio was ruled offside.

Four minutes from full time, Cuba’s Jose Ciprian Alfonso got behind Costa Rica’s defense, but his attempt was saved by Patrick Pemberton.