An exciting quarter-final match up between USA and Cuba resulted in a 5-1 result for the Americans. It was end to end in the second half but an opening goal from USA veteran Pat Harris and two from Deegan Huisman was too much for Cuba whose goal came from Carlos Consuegra. 

The opening half of Cuba and USA was very tight. USA looked more organized overall but that didn’t stop Cuba from finding their chances. In the 13^th minute Yasmany Gutierrez earned the first promising attack for Cuba as he smashed a ball to Wilfredo Sanchez. Sanchez shook his defender and flipped the ball off his back hand only to be met with the glove of USA keeper Jonathan Klages.

In the second quarter the USA seemed to settle the pace earning a penalty corner in the 16^th minute. Aki Kaeppeler flicked high but the ball was deemed dangerous and Cuba reset quickly with a free out. USA had another penalty corner chance just three minutes later and Sean Cicchi unleashed an absolute rocket but the ball hit the inside of the post and somehow stayed out.

Cuba’s Sanchez and Felix Mena worked the ball for Cuba up front but were unable to really test Klages, much to the disappointment of the superb work their defence was doing to keep the USA at bay. The game was scoreless at half time.

It was all action in the third quarter as Pat Harris blasted in a the game’s first goal. Two minutes later though some incredible stick work from Iraidys Calderon got Cuba into USA territory. After filing his way through five USA players Calderon dished it to Carlos Consuegra whose forehand blast tied the game 1-1.

A lack of discipline had Cuba’s Yasmany Gutierrez off with a green card and then Consuegra with a 10-minute yellow just one minute apart. USA earned a penalty corner and Aki Kaeppeler’s flick hit Darian Valero in the chest. The penalty corner ace delivered from the stroke mark to give USA a 2-1 lead. Deegan Huisman made it 3-1 when he deflected a hit in to the circle towards goal. The ball was saved by keeper Leordan Hernandez but Huisman flipped in his own rebound to give USA a two-goal lead.

The fourth quarter was just as intense as the third. Shots were fired at both ends but Klages and Hernandez were both steady in goal. The USA, however, had more penalty corner chances and Deegan Huisman got the last touch on a rebound shot from an Aki Kaeppeler flick and a Kei Kaeppeler follow up to send USA up 4-1. Cuba started to spread looking for another goal and that left room for the American forwards. Alberto Montilla slid the ball to Paul Singh on a three-on-one and Singh made no mistake on his back for a 5-1 USA lead.

Cuba had back-to-back penalty corners in the final minute of the game but couldn’t beat Klages to relegate them to the 5-6^th place bracket. The USA advance to the semifinals and will play Argentina who have allowed just two goals this tournament.