Costa Rica Wins and Advances

Two goals by second-half substitute Randall Brenes, making his national team debut, earned Costa Rica a 3-1 victory over Cuba on Saturday afternoon and a place in the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Brenes came off the bench at Qwest Field to score on a header in the 61st minute and a penalty kick in the 85th, the latter after chipping the ball over Cuban defender Alexander Cruzata, running around him to collect it, and then being felled by Cruzata.

“This is what I dreamed of,” Brenes said after leading the Ticos (2-0) to their second win in a row.

In between Brenes’ goals, Cuba (0-2) had tied it on a goal by Maykel Galindo in the 72nd minute. But as they had in a 4-1 loss to the U.S. on Thursday, the Cubans fell apart late.

Jafet Soto’s penalty kick goal in the 81st minute -- after Cuba goalkeeper Odelin Molina had upended Oscar Rojas -- followed by Brenes’ goal four minutes later, undid all the good work Cuba had done to that point.

-- Grahame L. Jones