Landon Donovan tied a U.S. record by scoring four goals in a 5-0 win over Cuba Saturday that moved the Americans into the semifinals of the Gold Cup.
The United States meets Brazil, a 2-0 winner over Colombia, in the semifinals Wednesday at Miami's Orange Bowl (TV: Galavision, live, 8 pm ET).
Just like last year when they beat El Salvador, 4-0, en route to the title, the quarterfinal match was a cakewalk for the Americans. Donovan scored twice in each half; Steve Ralston added the other goal in the 42nd minute.
All five goals came from balls served from the left side — three on crosses by Eddie Lewis and the others driven balls by Brian McBride and Greg Vanney.
Donovan became the fourth player in U.S. history to record four goals. The last was Joe-Max Moore in the USAÆs 7-0 win against El Salvador on Dec. 5, 1993, in Los Angeles. (Moore scored a fifth goal that went through a hole in the net, but the referee did not see the goal and refused to award it.)
U.S. goalkeeper Kasey Keller did not have to make a single save on his way into the record books. He set the all-time U.S. mark for shutouts with 33. He has recorded seven straight shutouts in Gold Cup play, extending his shutout streak to 712 minutes.
USA-CUBA SUMMARY:
July 19 in Foxboro, Mass.
USA 5 Cuba 0. Goals: Donovan 22, 26, 55, 76, Ralston 42.
USA — Keller, Hejduk, Califf, Gibbs, Vanney, Ralston, Mastroeni (Mulrooney, 46), Reyna (Stewart, 46), Lewis, Donovan, McBride (Mathis, 46).
Cuba — Molina, R.Perez, Cruzata, Minoso, Marquez, Rivero (Cervantes, 46), Faife, Ramirez, More (L.Perez, 46), Dacourt (Ruiz, 69) Castaneda.
Red card: Cuba — Fernandez 43.
Yellow cards: USA — Califf 49; Cuba — Faife 75.
Referee: Peter Prendergast (Jamaica).
Att.: 15,627.
STATS:
Shots: USA — 14; Cuba — 2.
Saves: USA — 0; Cuba — 4.
Corner Kicks: USA — 5; Cuba — 1.
Fouls: USA — 7; Cuba — 15.
Offside: USA — 3; Cuba — 1.