Watch: Wondolowski, Green score in USA's win over Cuba in choppy friendly
The U.S. men's national team made its first trip to Cuba in eight years, escaping with a 2-0 win in the second-to-last tune-up before the CONCACAF World Cup qualifying Hexagonal begins next month.
Chris Wondolowski and Julian Green scored in the second half, as the U.S. fought a tough host and rough field conditions but emerged with the victory. The Americans will play New Zealand in Washington, D.C., Tuesday night to complete the October international window.
The early going was choppy, both in terms of game play and the surface. The pasture at Estadio Pedro Marrero made it difficult for either side to establish a rhythm on the ball.
Green and Bobby Wood each carved out chances for the U.S. in the first half but weren't able to finish, while Ethan Horvath, who started in goal, made the save on Cuba's best opportunity in the opening 45 minutes.
Cuba nearly went ahead in the second half, with Maykel Reyes hitting the post off the counterattack after Green had a chance blocked at the other end.
Another Green chance resulted in the USA's awaited opener. Green had his opportunity saved by Sandy Sanchez, but it was parried right to Wondolowski, who had entered as a second-half substitute. He finished off the rebound to give the U.S. a 1-0 lead.
Wondolowski returned the favor for Green less than 10 minutes later. The San Jose Earthquakes forward cross to the goal mouth, where Green tapped it home for his first U.S. goal since tallying in the 2014 World Cup round of 16 against Belgium.
Klinsmann was livid later in the second half, as Steve Birnbaum, another halftime substitute, took a flying kick to the head, which caused massive bleeding. The referee allowed play to go on, and Cuba nearly scored with the U.S. in disarray.
The U.S. finished off the clean sheet, winning for a third straight time since the completion of Copa America and outscoring its three Carribean opponents (St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad & Tobago and Cuba) 12-0 in that span.
Here were the full rosters for both teams:
USA
GOALKEEPERS: David Bingham (San Jose Earthquakes), Ethan Horvath (Molde FK), William Yarbrough (Club Leon)
DEFENDERS: Steve Birnbaum (D.C. United), John Brooks (Hertha Berlin), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City), Timmy Chandler (Eintracht Frankfurt), Omar Gonzalez (Pachuca), Fabian Johnson (Borussia Monchengladbach), DeAndre Yedlin (Newcastle)
MIDFIELDERS: Paul Arriola (Club Tijuana), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Lynden Gooch (Sunderland), Perry Kitchen (Hearts), Sacha Kljestan (New York Red Bulls), Christian Pulisic (Borussia Dortmund), Danny Williams (Reading)
FORWARDS: Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC), Julian Green (Bayern Munich), Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders FC), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes), Bobby Wood (Hamburg SV)
Cuba
GOALKEEPERS: Diosvelis Guerra (Artemisa), Delvis Lumpy (Villa Clara), Geandri Megret (FC Guantanamo) Sandy Sanchez (Las Tunas)
DEFENDERS: Daniel Alarco (La Habana), Andy Baquero (La Habana), Dayron Blanco (Las Tunas), Carlos Domingo Francisco (Santiago de Cuba), Yasmani Lopez (Ciego de Avila), Yasniel Napoles (Camaguey), Eugenio Palmero (Sancti Spiritus), Yosel Piedra (Villa Clara), Erick Rizo (Santiago de Cuba), David Urgelles (FC Guantanamo)
MIDFIELDERS: Roberney Caballero (Villa Clara), Osmany Capote (Villa Clara), Alberto Gomez (FC Guantanamo), Arichell Hernandez (Villa Clara), Roberto Peraza (La Habana), Daniel Luis Saez (La Habana), Eddy Saname (La Habana)
FORWARDS: Duxney Espinoza (Camaguey), Eddy Gelkis Olivares (Santiago de Cuba), Yoelvis Gonzalez (Villa Clara), Maykel Reyes (Cruz Azul Hidalgo, MEX), Yasnai Rivero (La Habana)
