NORTH SOUND, Antigua (CMC) – Cuba confirmed their status as the top football nation in the region by edging former champions Trinidad and Tobago 1-nil to capture the Caribbean Cup for the first time here Sunday night.

Twenty-three-year-old Marcel Hernandez’s long range gamble paid off in extra time as a goalkeeper blunder sealed the title for the Cubans who were appearing in the final for the third time in 13 years.
Goalkeeper Jan-Michael Williams made a fatal error when he let Hernandez’s shot from 35 metres out slip through his grasp to deprive the Soca Warriors of their ninth CFU title.
Williams appeared to position himself behind the ball, which spun out of his hand and into the goal in the 22nd minute of extra time giving Cuba their slender victory over the eight-time champions at the Antigua Recreation Ground.
An otherwise evenly fought tactical contest saw both teams emerging from a goalless first half to drama in the 63rd minute as the former champions rode their luck when the new champions missed a crucial penalty which would have given them the lead.
Trinidad were caught on the counter-attack and the speedy midfielder Hernandez was brought down while attempting to elude goalkeeper Williams.
However Jaime Valencia’s spot kick soared over the crossbar.
Carlyle Mitchell almost put the Soca Warriors ahead in the sixth minute with a header that hit the post off a corner kick.
The close call appeared to have caught Cuba’s attention and increased the urgency of its attack in response.
Alberto Gomez, 10 minutes later, shot inches wide after the midfielder electrified the crowd with an impressive display of dribbling.
Cuba’s first place achievement earns them US$100 000 and a place in the CONCACAF Gold Cup next year.
The Spanish-speaking Caribbean nation earned the trophy, winning their last four games by a combined score of 5-1, following a 1-0 loss to Martinique in their opener.
The Trinidadians, who won eight of the first 13 tournaments, were forced to settle for the second prize of US$75 000 but also qualified for next year’s Gold Cup.
It was also a painful end to a fairy tale run for the mainly local-based Trinidadian footballers. They have had to contend with controversy in that country’s football as well as a dispute between the country’s football governing body and the Ministry of Sports.
The game was a rematch of the 1999 final, which Trinidad won 2-1 at home in Port of Spain.
Cuba, Trinidad, Haiti and Martinique – the tournament’s top four finishers, respectively – will represent the Caribbean at the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup.