The U.S. U-23 National Team rolled to a second straight win in CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying on Saturday, cruising to a 6-1 win over Cuba to move to 2-0-0 through two matches. After a 3-1 win over Canada on Thursday, the U.S. has now clinched a spot in the semifinal round on October 10 at Rio Tinto Stadium.
Real Salt Lake midfielder Luis Gil and defender Boyd Okwuonu both played 90 minutes on Saturday, with Gil acting as an offensive instigator with three assists while also completing 92% of his 48 passes on the afternoon.
Gil got the U.S. on the scoreboard early, assisting Cameron Carter-Vickers with a free kick from the left side that the 17-year-old defender headed into the side-panel for a 1-0 lead in the 16th minute. Gil was also credited with an assist on a 35th minute goal from Matt Miazga before Jerome Kiesewetter added another in the 38th minute to take a 3-0 lead into halftime. Kiesewetter would score his second goal of the match in the 49th minute, then Gil figured into the scoring for the fifth goal, setting up Emerson Hyndman in the 69th minute for a 5-0 lead. Alonso Hernandez made it 6-0 before Cuba pulled a goal back in stoppage time for the final 6-1 tally.
The U.S. will play one more match in the Group Stage against Panama on Tuesday at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colorado, before heading to the semifinal round on October 10 at Rio Tinto Stadium.
Tickets are available at RealSaltLake.com and at the Rio Tinto Stadium box office.
