ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC) – A resilient Cuba thrice came from behind to force a dramatic 3-3 draw with Suriname and remain unbeaten in the Group G qualifying round of the Digicel Caribbean Cup yesterday.
In a topsy-turvy encounter at the Antigua Recreation Ground, Cuba’s never-say-die attitude kept them alive, as they successfully countered everything the Surinamese threw their way.
Their good fortune seemed to have run out, however, as they trailed 3-2 in the dying moments of the game but Adonis Soler struck two minutes from full time in another thrilling twist to the tale.
Suriname were ahead as early as the seventh minute when Germaine Van Dick smashed home midfielder Emilio Limon’s pass.
Cuba then took the game by the scruff of its neck, dominating the Surinamese and coming close to scoring on several occasions but had to wait until the brink of half-time when Armando Isidoro poked home from close range after Yenier Molina headed on Alain Ofarril’s corner.
Four minutes after the break, Suriname jumped in front again thanks to Stefano Rijssel who delivered a rasping drive past goalkeeper Vismel Guivert, after being set up by Limon.
Cuba were back on level terms in the 65th through a gem of a goal as Molina played a superb ball over the top for Ofarril to beat goalie Obrendo Huiswoud with a delicate lob.
Derrick Garden then seemed to have won it for Suriname nine minutes from time when his shot ricocheted off the post and into the net off custodian Guivert.
But Soler, on the field for only eight minutes after entering the game as a substitute, headed home a free kick from close range to steal a point for Cuba.
Cuba have four points from their two games while Suriname earned their first.