USMNT: Hat Trick from Joe Corona Leads U-23s to Win in First Qualifying Match

The gulf in class was apparent from the opening whistle as the United States began Olympic qualifying against Cuba. A red card to put the Caribbean nation down a man after just 19 minutes meant the match would not even be strenuously contested.

Cuba simply couldn't match Brek Shea's (and later Joseph Gyau's) speed and energy down the left, couldn't disrupt the connection between Mix Diskerud and Joe Corona in central midfield and couldn't mount any sustained pressure on an untroubled U.S. back four.

Everyone's man-of-the-match (Corona) opened the Americans' tally when he settled an attempted clearance from Cuba's keeper on his chest before side-footing a volley into the corner of goal.

At the 19 minute mark, Dario Macias assured the young Nats an easy night when his slap to Juan Agudelo's face sent the referee reaching for his back pocket. Down to 10 men, Cuba's competitive night was essentially over.

Despite dominating possession for the full 90 minutes, the United States didn't create a clear-cut chance from open play until nearly the half-hour mark when Corona found Shea racing in down the right. The chance fizzled, but having once unlocked Cuba's defense, U.S. never allowed the door to be closed again.

Thirty-seven minutes in, Shea burst down the left and played a cross to Agudelo who waltzed in past a pair of Cuban defenders for the easy headed goal.

Just three minutes later, an attempted clearance fell to Diskerud at the top left of the Cuban area. Diskerud pulled the ball back and played square to Corona at the penalty mark. Corona stroked the ball first time into the bottom corner for his second goal of the game.

Another three minutes and another goal for the Yanks.

Shea received behind a stumbling Cuban defender and pushed down the left before playing a pass toward Agudelo. Cuba's central defender Arturo Diz Pe tried to clear, but ended up deflecting the ball into his own goal off his standing leg.

The score 4-0 at halftime was more than the United States needed. But they weren't quite done despite playing keep-ball for large segments of the second half.

Teal Bunbury came on for Agudelo at the half. Gyau came on for Shea a little more than 20 minutes later. But the U.S. could have played any of their roster and it would have made no difference.

Entering the last half-hour, Ike Opara won the race to a Cuban clearance. His first touch sent the ball to Freddy Adu outside the top of the area. Adu set himself, turned and hammered a laser off the desperate fingers of Cuban keeper Odisnel Cooper and into the net.

If the game had been close, we'd all be talking about Bunbury being bowled over in the box in the 71st minute. As it is, there was no need.

Joe Corona finished off his hat trick in the 87th, when he and Diskerud shredded the left side of Cuba's defense with three passes between themselves. The movement ended with Corona coolly directing the final touch in at Cooper's far post.

That made it 6-0 to the Nats. It was a dominant performance over a weak opponent. But not one that had head coach Caleb Porter celebrating. Via USSoccer.com:

"

We’re obviously pleased with the strong start, but we’re also not satisfied with the performance. Even though the result was lopsided, I still thought it could have been better.

Early in the game we were a little bit shaky in the buildup. The defending could have been a little tighter. It’s a little bit to be expected in the first game of the tournament. The nice thing is they settled in.

"

Porter's team will have a chance to improve on their lopsided opening match performance when they face Canada on Saturday. Canada played to a 0-0 draw in their first game against El Salvador in the other Group A match played Thursday.