Yoandy BLANCO powered Cuba to the gold medal when he scored a hatrick in his team’s comprehensive 5-1 victory against Trinidad and Tobago in the final of the 2014 Central American and Caribbean Games (Men). Both teams have however qualified for the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto, Canada.

BLANCO scored two of his goals in 6 minutes to give Cuba a 2-0 half at the end of the 1^st half. Trinidad’s Mickell PIERRE started the game brightly and had Cuba scrambling on several occasions while his captain Darren COWIE, anchored his team’s defence. Both teams employed the tactic of long balls from defence to their forwards as they tried to stretch the field. In the 22^nd minute however Cuba earned a penalty corner and BLANCO scored his first goal and he followed it up with his second goal from another penalty corner in the 28^th minute.

In the second half, Trinidad pushed Akim TOUSSAINT forward as they tried to get a foot back in the match but Cuba’s midfield, led by Roger AGUILERA, made it difficult for them to find their offensive rhythm. Adrian MOLINA then gave Cuba a 3-0 lead in the 41^st minute when he picked off a ball in the 23m and blasted a shot past Trinidad’s goalkeeper, Andrey ROCKE.

BLANCO then rounded off his hatrick in the 62^nd minute and one minute later Yoel VEITIA extended his team’s lead to 5-0. Trinidad however did not give up and were rewarded with a consolation goal when PIERRE, who just missed an earlier chance, got one past Cuba’s substitute goalkeeper Yendry DELGADO.