into injury time, with nearly every Cuban player in Belizes box, Liban Perez headed a pass that Molina converted. In the first half, Martinez moved from right wing toward the middle just outside the pen

EAST HARTFORD, Conn. -- Ariel Martinez ended Cubas long Gold Cup drought with three goals Tuesday, and Jeniel Molinas last-second score lifted the Cubans into the quarterfinals with a 4-0 rout of overmatched Belize. It was Cubas first victory in 14 Gold Cup games, including 12 losses. The Cubans finished the opening round 1-2 after losses to the United States and Costa Rica, but the four-goal victory allowed them to advance over Martinique as one of the top third-place teams. "For me, it was like winning the World Cup," Martinez said. "It is a great achievement for us and it made me very happy." Belize (0-3), which finished with 10 men, was eliminated. After Martinez completed his hat trick, the Cubans pressed for the fourth goal that would keep them in the tournament. They came close a handful of times, then Molina put in a short right-footed shot and his teammates stormed off the bench into the corner of the pitch to mob him. Cuba advanced one other time, in 2003. "It was a great game for us," Cuba coach Walter Benitez said. "We put in as much effort as we needed to. It was a tremendous result." By far the best player on the field, Martinez connected with left-footed drives in the 38th and 63rd minutes. He completed the hat trick with a short right-footed shot in the 84th, and Cuba threatened several times to get a fourth. Each time a Cuban failed to hit the mark, he either held his head in frustration or stomped the ground. But deep into injury time, with nearly every Cuban player in Belizes box, Liban Perez headed a pass that Molina converted. In the first half, Martinez moved from right wing toward the middle just outside the penalty area, then unleashed a shot from 18 yards that beat diving goalkeeper Woodrow West to his right just inside the post. Cuba had nearly every good chance in the first half, but was frustrated by a lack of finishing touch until Martinezs brilliant goal. Before beating West, Martinez had been stymied a half-dozen times by the Belize keeper, including twice in one minute. Wood remained sharp for much of the second half, but was no match for Martinezs slaloming move through the defence for a 12-yard shot to make it 2-0. Perezs pass freed Martinez for his third score, and suddenly Cuba sensed a chance to advance. It waited until the dying moments to seize the opportunity and will play Panama on Saturday in Atlanta. Belizes first Gold Cup concluded with three losses by a combined 11-1 margin, and a quick trip back to Central America. The Belizeans made news last week when two players, Wood and Ian Gaynair, said they were approached to fix a game against the United States, but rejected the offer. Belize finished short-handed when Gaynair drew his second yellow card in the 81st minute. Cuba struck twice after that.Custom Nike Baseball Jerseys . Following a lopsided 5-2 loss against the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday night, Paul MacLean told reporters that "theres a lack of focus, theres a lack of leadership and theres a lack of preparation" with his struggling team. That came on the heels of Bryan Murray taking the unusual step of going into the locker room at the Prudential Center and addressing the players himself. Custom Nike Tampa Bay Rays Jerseys .Y. -- The Buffalo Sabres have placed centre Cody Hodgson on injured reserve and recalled two players from their AHL affiliate in Rochester. https://www.customjerseysnikebaseball.com/custom-nike-pittsburgh-pirates-jerseys/ . While hell be dialed in to that tournament on a course he loves, you can forgive him if his eyes glance down the calendar just a bit, towards April. Custom Nike New York Yankees Jerseys .Y. -- Knicks coach Mike Woodson said Wednesday that J. Custom Nike Los Angeles Dodgers Jerseys . From filmmaker Nanette Burstein (On the Ropes), The Price of Gold revisits the saga that rocked the figure skating world ahead of the 1994 Lillehammer Olympic Winter Games: the assault on Nancy Kerrigan, and the plot that led its way back to her rival Tonya Harding. ' ' '