Days 1 and 2 of the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup brought us four tight, tense games that were decided by a combined one goal (three draws). Thursday’s games from Group C were…well, considerably less competitive.
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Trinidad and Tobago thumped Guatemala, 3-1, in the undercard, a couple hours before Mexico hammered — and continued to hammer — Cuba, to the tune of 6-0, in front of a largely pro-Mexico crowd of 54,126 at Soldier Field in Chicago.
El Tri put to death, emphatically, a seven-game winless streak which stretched back to June 3. Mexico outshot Cuba by a margin of 44 to 3. Carlos Vela and Andres Guardado each bagged a goal of their own, neatly spacing out Oribe Perlata’s hat trick on the night. Giovani dos Santos scored the last one of Mexico’s half-dozen goals.
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To the highlight reel we go…
Third time’s the charm as Oribe Peralta gives Mexico the early lead over Cuba. #GoldCup2015 http://t.co/ULFNF3GfUE
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 10, 2015
Comical Cuban defending leads to #ElTri‘s second goal, courtesy of Carlos Vela. #GoldCup2015 http://t.co/PLyGgfzhv0
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 10, 2015
Oribe Peralta makes it 3-0 for #ElTri with his second of the half. #GoldCup2015 http://t.co/KiegllHbph — FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 10, 2015
It’s all too easy for Mexico as Guardado made it 4-0 just before halftime. #GoldCup2015 http://t.co/PGJSGZph0P — FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 10, 2015
Oribe Peralta seals his hat trick as Mexico go up 5-0 on Cuba. #GoldCup2015 http://t.co/3IVQTzMcAM
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 10, 2015
No offside this time! Giovanni Dos Santos makes it a half dozen goals for Mexico. #GoldCup2015 http://t.co/2fMky6VnIk
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 10, 2015
In truth, nothing was learned from this game. Mexico could/should have won by more than 10 — 44 shots to 3!!! — because Cuba are really, really, really bad. Mexico, who currently sit atop of Group A ahead of Trinidad and Tobago on goal difference, have a date with Guatemala on Sunday.