As the U.S. under-23 national team started its run toward qualification for the Beijing Olympics, the opening match was a shock. The U.S. team stumbled out of the game against a Cuban side that managed to pull off a 1-1 draw despite being heavy underdogs.
The USA recovered from that result to eventually win one of the two available places in this summer's Olympic Games. But for the Cuban team, a different story began to unfold.
Nearly half the Cuban team defected, and in their next match, against Honduras, Cuba was able to field a team with only 10 players, as one of the remaining players was suspended.
Of the players that left the Cuban team while it was playing in Tampa, three have surfaced in southern California, where they are currently on trial with the Los Angeles Galaxy.
Goalkeeper Jose Manual Miranda, midfielder Yordany Alvarez and defender Yenier Bermudez have joined the club in training. In the game against the U.S., Miranda made eight saves, Alvarez assisted on the goal and Bermudez wore the captain's armband.
This week they are getting a long look from Galaxy head coach Ruud Gullit, and so far the Dutchman likes what he sees.
"You have to give them a chance, it's been quite an adventure for them," said Gullit. "We take it very serious. If it's something good for us, for the depth of the squad, we're going to do it."
The Galaxy could probably use some depth in all areas of the field, as could any MLS team. The season is a long one, and injuries tend to mount as the season wears on. Having a little extra help off the bench is always welcome, while the extra bodies in training will increase the level of competition, forcing players to perform at a higher level.
"It's always good to have players come in and push other players and teammates for positions," said David Beckham. "It puts a little bit of added pressure. They're good players."
One thing working in the Cubans favor is the fact that they wouldn't count against the international player limit. Under MLS rules, U.S. citizens, green card holders and foreigners who have been granted asylum don't count toward the eight non-domestic player limit.
Should the Galaxy choose to sign any of the three players, it could be a simple matter of filing the proper paperwork for any of the Cubans to be granted asylum status. Still, the trio needs to prove that they have what it takes to earn a contract in MLS.
Their journey to Los Angeles has not been an easy one. The trio took a bus from Florida all the way to Los Angeles in hopes of landing their own Hollywood story.
Last season, Maykel Galindo emerged as a star for L.A.'s other team, Chivas USA. Like the three new faces in the Galaxy camp, Galindo is a Cuban national who defected to the United States after the CONCACAF Gold Cup in 2005. He is one of three Cuban exiles to play in Major League Soccer, after Alberto Delgado and Rey Angel Martinez, both of whom played for the Colorado Rapids in 2004.
For Miranda, Alvarez and Bermudez, a sequel to that story would be more than welcome.
Greg Daurio is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
