Cuba advances with 1-0 Gold Cup win over Guatemala

Guatemala goalkeeper Paulo Motta, top, stops a shot as Cuba’s Daniel Luis, left, and Guatemala’s Deniss Lopez, right, watch during the first half of a CONCACAF Gold Cup soccer match in Charlotte, N.C., Wednesday, July 15, 2015. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton) Guatemala goalkeeper Paulo Motta, top, stops a shot as Cuba’s Daniel Luis, left, and Guatemala’s Deniss Lopez, right, watch during the first half of a CONCACAF Gold Cup soccer match in Charlotte, N.C., Wednesday, July 15, 2015. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

By Associated Press July 15, 2015 2 min read

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) – Maikel Reyes scored on a header in the 73rd minute to lift Cuba to a 1-0 win over Guatemala on Wednesday night in the CONCAF Gold Cup.

Cuba (1-2-0) advanced to the quarterfinals, where it will play the United States on Saturday in Baltimore, Maryland.

Cuba’s first goal of the tournament came when Alberto Gomez sent a crossing pass in the center of the box to Reyes, who headed the ball past Paulo Motta. Reyes ripped off his jersey in celebration.

Cuba won despite playing without four players.

Keiler Garcia and Arael Arguellez defected earlier in the tournament, and Dario Saurez and Aricheel Hernandez were no-shows for this game. Neither CONCAF officials nor the Cuban delegation members offered an immediate explanation as to the absences.