Cuba vs Guadeloupe prediction: NORTH & CENTRAL AMERICA: Gold Cup betting tips on match 2023-07-01 23:30.
Cuba started their CONCACAF Gold Cup campaign with a disappointing 1-0 loss to Guatemala on Tuesday, and their misery was compounded by the news that a quartet of the squad failed to make the team’s flight from Miami to Houston where this contest is set to take place. Elier Sánchez’s potentially depleted side will have to put that to one side and fight to avoid another defeat that would see them drop out of this tournament at the group-stage for the seventh time across their last ten appearances.
A blunt attack is hampering Cuba, who have now not only failed to score in three straight defeats, but also in five consecutive Gold Cup losses. The Lions of the Caribbean have at least scored in all but one of their previous eight H2Hs (W4, L4) with Guadeloupe, so they’ll perhaps be confident of putting an end to that run and keeping alive their Gold Cup campaign here.
The Islanders won’t be pushovers though, as they proved against Canada with a deep stoppage-time equaliser in a 2-2 draw on Tuesday, a result which ended an eight-game losing run in this competition. That draw also extended Guadeloupe’s recent unbeaten run to three matches (W2, D1) but they are still searching for a first Gold Cup win since July 2009 having been eliminated from their previous two campaigns without a single point.
Another gritty performance could keep them in the fray for just a third knock-out qualification in their tournament history, and that would be quite an accomplishment for a side that doesn’t even have an official FIFA ranking. Maybe the Gwada Boys will be quietly confident of their chances here having won three of the last four H2Hs (L1), with one of those coming last year in the CONCACAF Nations League.
Players to watch: Picking up a yellow card was the only notable contribution from Arichel Hernández in Cuba’s opening game, but a goal could prove a lucky charm as his seven national goals arrived in four eventual victories. That record could be put to the test if Thierry Ambrose finds the net, with Guadeloupe remaining unbeaten in the last four games he scored (W3, D1).
Hot streak: None of Cuba’s last eight Gold Cup matches saw both teams score.