Cuba before meeting Los Chapines had been beaten 6-0 by El Tri in their opener and then 2-0 by the Soca Warriors. The Caribbean nation were understrength missing Arael Argullez who defected just before the match joining Keilan Garcia defecting at the very start of the tournament. They were also without midfielder Aricheel Hernandez who could not enter the USA because of visa issues. Guatemala was heavily favoured to go through joining Panama as the second of the two best third placed teams. They had held Mexico to a tough draw and had a better goal differential compared to the Cubans. Waiting nervously in the wings, Group B’s third placed side El Salvador. A goalless or a 1-1 draw would mean a quarterfinal ticket.

A 72nd minute goal by Maikel Reyes changed all of that. Mario Martinez their best player was the architect picking out Alberto Gomez with a switching diagonal for the midfielder to streak to the right side of the box and clip the ball to Reyes hurling himself to head home.

With the Cubans leading, Los Chapines needed two goals quickly. MLS veteran Marco Pappa came very close to pulling one back as his swerving left footed shot was heading for the upper left corner when Diosvelis Guerra came up with a fingertip save. The Cubans held onto win and then the enormity of what they had done overcame them. Well played Cuba. They now face the USA in the first quarter-finals and given the recent warming of relations, a political dimension.