Cuba Eliminated from Gold Cup

With 6-1 loss to Panama in quarterfinals

HAVANA TIMES — Cuba’s hopes to advance to the semifinals of the 2013 Gold Cup soccer tournament came to an end on Saturday when they fell by a lopsided score of 6-1 to favored Panama, which has not lost a match in the Cup.

Cuba did have a moment of glory with José Ciprián scoring the match’s first goal at the 20-minute mark. But the hope for an upset began to fade when Panama’s Gabriel Torres got the first of two goals five minutes later on a penalty kick.

Torres other score came at minute 38 and put his team ahead to stay.  Panama scored more four goals in the second half at minutes 68 (Carlos Rodríguez), 77 and 87 (Blas Perez) and 84 (Jairo Jiménez).

The Panamanians will now face México in their semifinal match.  The Mexicans defeated Trinidad and Tobago 1-0 on Saturday to move on in the tournament.

Today Sunday, Honduras plays Costa Rica and the USA goes against El Salvador in the other quarterfinal contests.