A heavy defeat to Trinidad and Tobago in the second leg of the second leg buried the West Indies’ chances of qualifying.
A 4-0 defeat to hosts Trinidad and Tobago in the second leg of the second leg of the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup has put paid to the Cuban national football team’s chances of qualifying for the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
The chance of overturning the 1-2 first leg deficit began to fade as soon as the second leg began, as Romario Torres was shown a red card in the second minute for a reckless and disproportionate tackle and DT Yunielys Castillo’s plan collapsed.
The Cuban team suffered until they found some order, with it came poise and even some signs of the attitude of seeking the goal despite adversity, but a goal by Isaiah Lee in the 22′ proved a difficult blow to bear.
The drums sounded again in the Ato Boldon Stadium, after a few minutes in which it seemed that the visitors were playing better, despite having 10 men. And the crowd, until then silent, cheered up with Lee’s second, in the 37′, taking advantage of a mistake by the Cuban defence.
The third came in the opening minutes of the second half. Kevin Molino sealed an expected doom, but those who doubled the workload, to cover the absent team-mate’s space, stoically and committedly endured the punishment of the inferiority.
«I’m left with the effort of those who were on the pitch, with the attitude that led them to even try to reach the opponent’s goal, you have to appreciate their commitment and that they didn’t laugh,» said Yunielys Castillo.
And they well deserved the recognition of their coach, because the work demanded by the circumstances brought muscular fatigue, but did not diminish the courage, and when the legs did not respond came the fourth of the Trinidadians, with Nathaniel James, at 84′.
Castillo described it well at the end of the match: «We were up against a good team, very strong, and if it was already difficult to beat them on level terms, at their place, with a disadvantage, it was excessively complex».
According to the Cuban coach, we will have to turn the page on the 2025 Gold Cup, but leave with our heads held high and focused on the World Cup qualifiers that await in June.
Then, against Antigua and Barbuda as visitors, and Bermuda at home, there will be time to make amends, and better than that, the result.
