Cuba Qualifies for the ‘Under-20’ Soccer World Cup

Arichel Hernandez, hero of Cuba’s historic victory.

HAVANA TIMES — For the first time ever, the Cuban team won a ticket to the world soccer cup tournament for young players under 20 years of age. The island’s team defeated Costa Rica 2-1 on Tuesday night on the playing field of the Autonomous University of Puebla, in Mexico.

According to the Cubadebate website, the two Cuban goals were made by Arichel Hernandez, one in the twelfth minute of play and the other within ten minutes of the match’s end. The second goal produced a tiebreaker in the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF “under-20” tournament.

With that outcome, described as “historic” by the official Cuban media, the Cubans retaliated against the same rival that two years ago knocked them out of the competition for the World Cup. Now they’ll be able to participate in the 2013 World Cup in Turkey.