Rubber-Match Win 49 Years in the Making

On This Day in 1998, a Victory to Start the Gold Cup

The United States entered 1998, riding a wave of momentum. Steve Sampson's squad had closed out 1997 by securing their World Cup spot with a convincing 3-0 victory over Canada on November 9, followed by a 4-2 win against El Salvador to wrap up qualifying. The positive trajectory continued into the new year as the Americans opened 1998 with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Sweden during January camp. With France '98 looming, the U.S. kicked off their CONCACAF Gold Cup campaign, a 15-day tournament starting at the beginning of the month.

For Sampson, the tournament represented a crucial opportunity to evaluate his squad just months before the World Cup. On February 1, the Americans would host Cuba at the Oakland Coliseum, marking the first meeting between the two nations in almost 50 years. The two teams held 1-1-1 (WDL) records against each other, with Cuba winning the first in Havana during the 1947 North American Football Confederation Championship. US and Cuba played to a 1-1 draw in the 1949 NAFC Championship before the United States earned a 5-2 win a week later — both in Mexico. That latter victory secured the Americans' spot at the 1950 World Cup.

The US came into this match as heavy favorites against a Cuban side ranked 62 spots below them in the FIFA rankings. Still, the most intriguing storyline was Sampson's decision to move Eric Wynalda, the U.S. all-time leading scorer with 31 goals in 90 appearances, from his natural forward position to left midfield. The move was made partly to accommodate forwards like Roy Wegerle and Roy Lassiter, but it left Wynalda in an unfamiliar role.

"I never put my personal agenda in front of what's best for the team. It's pretty much as simple as that. There's no issue as to any hostility between Steve and me," Wynalda said before the match, though his adjustment to the new position remained a key talking point.

The Americans came out aggressive from the opening whistle, with Frankie Hejduk leading several early attacking moves. Wynalda thought he had given the U.S. the lead in just the 5th minute. Still, his goal was controversially ruled offside by Trinidadian linesman Merere Louis Gonzalez – a decision that brought Sampson furiously off the bench. He even mentioned it at halftime during the full match broadcast. The disallowed goal seemed to affect the U.S. team's rhythm, as they struggled to convert their chances despite dominating possession. The teams went into halftime scoreless, with some frustrated boos emanating from the 11,234 fans in attendance.

The breakthrough finally came in the 55th minute through Roy Wegerle, who continued his hot streak with his fourth goal in three matches. The play started with Wynalda, who delivered an excellent flick to put Wegerle one-on-one with Cuban goalkeeper Alexi Reve-Aviles. The Americans nearly saw their lead evaporate three minutes later when Eduardo Cebranco hammered a shot against the right post – inches away from changing the match's complexion.

Instead, Wynalda doubled the lead in the 59th minute. The play developed when Cobi Jones pressured Reve-Aviles, forcing a loose ball that fell perfectly for an unmarked Wynalda to slam into the empty net. Joe-Max Moore, who had been everywhere on the field all afternoon, capped the scoring in the 76th minute with a confident penalty kick after Preki was brought down in the box.

Moore's performance was particularly noteworthy, as the 27-year-old from Irvine showed his versatility by tracking back on defense, creating chances in midfield, and joining the attack when needed. Having spent the MLS offseason in Ecuador rather than taking a break, Moore's fitness was evident throughout the match. "I feel great, I feel real sharp," Moore said afterward. "There's positions I prefer, but I really feel at this point that I'm fit enough to play wherever Steve puts me. I'm willing to do the work every game."

The 3-0 victory gave the U.S. a strong start to their Gold Cup campaign, though Sampson acknowledged room for improvement. "It wasn't until the second half, when things opened up a bit, that we were able to capitalize," he said, lamenting the "20 or 30 very clear opportunities" his team created but couldn't finish. The win set up a crucial group match against Costa Rica the following Saturday in Oakland, with the Americans needing a result to advance to the semifinals, which would come as a 2-1 American victory.

For Cuba, despite the loss, the tournament represented a chance to showcase their progress in a sport traditionally overshadowed by baseball in their country. "Our main goal in this tournament is to show just how much Cuban soccer has improved in the past few years," Cuban coach William Bennett said through an interpreter. "This is a very important step for us."