Cuban player defected before Gold Cup match, says assistant coach
GLENDALE, Ariz. --
A second Cuban soccer player has defected while the team is in the United States for the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Assistant coach Walter Benitez said midfielder Arael Arguellez defected before Sunday's match against Trinidad and Tobago. Arguellez joined forward Keilen Garcia, who left the team before it opened the Gold Cup in Chicago on Thursday.
Cuba also played Sunday's match without midfielder Aricheel Hernandez, who was unable to enter the country due to visa problems. Cuba would eventually suffer their second straight loss, losing 2-0 to Trinidad and Tobago.
Five players and head coach Raul Gonzalez Triana arrived in time for Sunday's match after dealing with visa issues. They missed Cuba's 6-0 loss to Mexico in the Gold Cup opener.
