SANDY, Utah: The United States and Costa Rica both qualified for the quarter-finals of the CONCACAF Gold Cup on Saturday with victories in their Group C matches.
In-form striker Chris Wondolowski scored twice to steer the Americans to a comfortable 4-1 win over Cuba while an own goal gifted Costa Rica a 1-0 victory over Belize.
Wondolowski continued his red-hot form for the American national team with two superbly taken goals in the second half to clinch an expected win after Cuba had grabbed a surprise lead.
Jose Ciprian Alfonso had put the visitors ahead at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah with a 35th minute goal against the run of play but the US dominated the remainder of the match.
The Americans, who thumped Belize 6-1 in their previous Group match, got back on level terms when Landon Donovan converted a penalty in stoppage time at the end of the first half.
Joe Corona gave the Americans the lead when he scored his first international goal after 56 minutes before Wondolowski banged in two more to lift his tally for the tournament to five following his hat-trick against Belize.
Costa Rica, who had beaten Cuba 3-0 in their first game, kept another scoreless sheet with a 1-0 win over Belize. The only goal came in the 49th minute when defender Dalton Eiley accidentally put the ball in his own net.
The US and Costa Rica each have a maximum six points from two matches.
They will play each other in the final group match in Connecticut next week with both teams already through to the eight.
Cuba and Belize have a mathematical chance of advancing as a third placed team if they win their last match.
Five-star Sweden outclasses
Finland at women’s Euros
In Gothenburg, Sweden, Nilla Fischer and Lotta Schelin both scored twice as Sweden stormed to the top of Group A with a 5-0 hammering of Finland at the women’s Euro 2013 tournament on Saturday.
Defender Fischer netted her two first-half goals from set pieces, scoring with a header after 15 minutes before adding a second from close range 20 minutes later.
Kosovare Asllani extended Sweden’s advantage moments later when she glanced home a header. Asllani then turned provider in the second half as she produced a perfectly-timed pass for Schelin to slot home her first goal of the tournament.
Schelin completed the rout with three minutes remaining when she headed home once again from a set piece as Sweden rounded off a dominant performance in style.
Italy scored twice in six second-half minutes to defeat Denmark 2-1 in the earlier Group A game in Halmstad.
Melania Gabbiadini’s strike deflected off Line Roddik to give Italy the lead ten minutes after halftime, with Ilaria Mauro scoring a second on the hour mark.
Mia Brogaard reduced the deficit for Denmark midway through the second half but despite several chances, the Danes failed to find an equalizer.
Sweden and Italy, who face each other in the final group game, both have four points, with the hosts ahead on goal difference.
With a point each, Denmark and Finland face off in their final match.
US, Costa Rica make Gold Cup quarterfinals
