Men CAC Games - Cuba & Trinidad & Tobago make to the finals

 Cuba and Trinidad and Tobago will contest the gold medal match at the 2014 Central American and Caribbean Games, having beaten Barbados and Mexico 6-0 and 1-0 respectively. Both teams have also secured qualification to the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto, Canada.

In the first semi-final, Yoandy BLANCO’s hatrick and Marcos MARTINEZ’s brace propelled Cuba to a crushing 6-0 victory over Barbados. Play was fairly even until Cuba was awarded a penalty stroke in the 27^th minute which BLANCO cool put away. Marcos MARTINEZ then added his team’s 2^nd goal two minutes before halftime from a well-executed penalty corner.

Cuba shot out of the blocks in the 2^nd half and doubled their half time score when BLANCO and MARTINEZ once again found the back of the net 4 minutes after the re-start. Yoel VEITIA increased the score to 5-0 in the 48^th minute and BLANCO rounded out the scoring with his third goal in the 55^th minute. Despite the score line, Barbados never gave up and competed until the end.

Trinidad and Tobago clipped host country Mexico 1-0 in the second semi-final with Akin TOUSSAINT’s 60^th minute strike being the decisive goal. Both teams went at it from the opening whistle but neither team was able to get on the scoreboard at the end of the 1^st half. Trinidad’s Captain Darren COWIE was outstanding for his team in the middle of the field as he dictated play with searching passes and good defensive play. Mexico’s Pol MORENO and Francisco AGUILAR were their team’s best threats going forward.

Mexico will face Barbados on 24 November 2014 at 1:15pm.in the bronze medal match.

Jamaica won their first match of the 2014 Central American and Caribbean Games (Men) when they beat Guatemala 3-1 in their 5-7 crossover match and will next face Dominican Republic in the 5^th/6^th place match on 24 November 2014 at 11:00 a.m.

Jamaica started the first half briskly but had to wait until the 31^st minute to open the scoring when Gerald RICHARDS finished off a smart combination play in the circle to make it 1-0 at the end of the 1^st half. Guatemala’s Jorge RAMIREZ scored a penalty stroke in the 61^st minute to draw his team level at 1-1 but Jamaica then found an extra gear with Captain Kishawn WHITE and Kemar MITCHELL adding 2 goals in the 65^th and 69^th minute to close out the game 3-1.