Cuba loses Group C Gold Cup opener to Costa Rica

Portland (Oregon): Caribbean champions Cuba were beaten 0-3 by Costa Rica in their Group C opener of the CONCACAF Gold Cup at JELD-WEN Field.

Michael Barrantes brace in the second half lifted Costa Rica Tuesday night after the two teams battled to a scoreless first half against a stingy Cuban defence. However, Barrantes broke through the defence in the 52nd minute, taking an attempted clearance off his chest and firing a side volley into the net from 17 metres to put the `Ticos` in front. Jairo Arrieta doubled Costa Rica`s lead in the 71st minute, by pouncing on his own saved point-blank shot from a cross. Six minutes later, Barrantes added his second goal by tucking the ball to the right of goalkeeper Odelin Molina from 26 metres. Barrantes nearly had a hat-trick, but his goal in the 67th minute was called back when Alvaro Saborio was ruled offside. Four minutes from full time, Cuba`s Jose Ciprian Alfonso got behind Costa Rica`s defense, but his attempt was saved by Patrick Pemberton. IANS