The US U-17 national team kicked off their CONCACAF Championship in dominating fashion Friday, posting a 5-0 win over Cuba at Estadio Francisco Morazan in San Pedro Sula, Honduras.
The USA were powered by a hat trick from Joe Gallardo Jr., and goals from LA Galaxy product Hugo Arellano and FC Dallas Homegrown Player Alejandro Zendejas, highlighting a solid outing that puts the USA in good position atop Group A in the World Cup qualifying tournament. The Yanks continue group play Monday with a matchup against Trinidad & Tobago.
The US didn’t waste much time before gaining the upper hand on the Cubans, with Arellano charging onto a corner kick in the fifth minute for an authoritative header goal.
The dominating half for the Yanks paid off with two more goals right before halftime.
First, a decisive build-up in the 40th minute led to a Christian Pulisic cross that found Gallardo right in front of goal for an easy tap in. And then three minutes later, Haji Wright headed down a cross to an open Zendejas, who fired a right-footed missile past Cuba goalkeeper Jesus Hernandez.
Wright nearly got in on the goal-scoring fun in the 50th minute when he was set free on a long ball over the top, setting him up for a one-on-one with Hernandez. Wright took a touch around the on-rushing goalkeeper, but took his shot off the post on the wide-open goal.
The US did get a fourth when second-half substitute Lucas De La Torre played back to Gallardo, a Monterrey product, just beyond the edge of the box for a solid right-footed goal from distance in the 65th minute.
Cuba began to see more chances late.
In the 66th minute, Yordan Alonso got off a shot that flew wide. In the 72nd minute, Carlos Borromeo got off a shot in the box, but it also sailed wide.
But the US put the icing on the cake in the 88th minute when De La Torre slipped a pass through to give Gallardo a head-to-head with Hernandez to complete his hat trick.
In all, it was a comprehensive performance for the Yanks, who fired off 20 shots to Cuba’s three, none of which were on target.
US - Will Pulisic; Matthew Olosunde, Alexis Velela, Hugo Arellano, John Nelson; Eric Cavillo (Tyler Adams 28), Alejandro Zendejas (Luca de la Torre 64), Christian Pulisic; Haji Wright (McKinze Gaines 86), Joe Gallardo, Josh Perez.
Cuba - Enrique Hernandez; Felipe Hurtado (Neisser Sando 54), Dariel Morejon, Carlos Borromeo, Jeffrey Delgado; Jansiel Blanco, Jonathan Ramirez (Yordan Alonso 66), Raycharles Herrera (Brian Savigne 87), Eduard Puga, Serguey Campillo; Yosniel Gonzalez.
