Oribe Peralta scored a hat trick as Mexico routed undermanned Cuba, 6-0, in the first game of the CONCACAF Gold Cup for both teams Thursday.
It was an easy opener for the six-time Gold Cup winners. Cuba was playing without six players who hadn't arrived in the United States because of visa issues, and one who went missing after the team arrived in Chicago. Coach Walter Benitez said that Keilen Garcia left the team Wednesday.
Mexico also played without star forward Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez, who broke a collarbone last week in a tuneup match against Honduras.