HAVANA — Clint Dempsey scored before halftime and the United States held on to beat Cuba 1-0 in a sloppy and low-energy World Cup qualifier Saturday night, their first match on the communist-run island since 1947.
Half of the lights at rain-soaked Pedro Marrero Stadium went out in the 86th minute, causing a brief delay before the conclusion, during which Cuba nearly tied it off a free kick.
But the U.S. held on in the gloom to win its third straight road qualifier and take the lead in Group One with six points.
In the 39th minute, Oguchi Onyewu sent a pass into the box from midfield and Dempsey jumped up with two Cuban defenders, one of whom mistakenly headed the ball straight to Brian Ching.
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Ching held off a defender and dropped the ball to Dempsey who was all but unmarked when he netted from 12 yards out.
