Mexico crush Cuba in Gold Cup, Antuna scores hat-trick

Mexico easily dominates Cuba with a 7-0 win at the Rose Bowl, in the first game of the 2019 Gold Cup.

With a hat-trick from Uriel Antuna, a brace from Raul Jimenez, and goals by Diego Reyes & Alexis Vega, Mexico was able to secure their first victory without much trouble against Cuba.

Uriel Antuna opened up the scoreboard in the 2nd minute of the game after a rebound from the left post, giving him the advantage to tap the ball in and celebrate his first international goal. Antuna recently got added to the Gold Cup roster after Jorge Sanchez suffered an injury against Ecuador.

Mexico continued its pressure on Cuba’s side of the field but failed numerous attempts on goal. It was until the 30th minute where fans celebrated the second goal by Wolverhampton’s top scorer, Raul Jimenez.

Seven minutes later, Jesus Gallardo took a corner kick that was leading up for a volley by Jimenez, but sent it to Diego Reyes to strike and put El Tri up 3-0.

In the 44th minute, a failed center by the Aztecs led to defensive rebound only for Antuna to add his second goal of the game and put Mexico up 4-0 over the Cubans before the end of the first half.

As Cuba tried to push off Mexico in the second half, it wasn’t enough for them to prevent more goals going their way. Jimenez began the next set of goals in the 65th minute to change the score to 5-0 before he was subbed for Alexis Vega in the 72nd minute. Vega, wearing Chicharito’s iconic number 14, only took him three minutes to add Mexico’s sixth goal of the game.

Antuna finished the 7-0 massacre in the 80th minute and gained his first hat-trick. This victory puts Mexico currently in first place and will face Canada in Colorado in the next round of the group stage. Tata Martino mentioned he would use the same lineup as he was satisfied with the way his team played.