RSL's international players all victorious in first WCQ of break

Wins for Canada, the United States and Costa Rica meant RSL's international players moved one step closer toward qualification for the 2014 World Cup.

Sparky midfielder Will Johnson scored a fine headed goal for Canada against hamstrung ten-man Cuba ... Cuba, who had only 11 registered players for the affair, will be frustrated by the loss but not particularly surprised, as their roster was decimated by five suspected defections. (It is worth noting that Seattle Sounders midfielder Osvaldo Alonso and RSL's defensive midfielder Yordany Alvarez both arrived in the United States through the same method - defection around a national team match.) The new father was substituted around the 80th minute as Canada extended their safety net to 3-0.

Alvaro Saborio had a strong night for Costa Rica with his hold-up play, but with his side generally panicky against El Salvador, he wasn't entirely involved - Costa Rica, it seemed, was too busy clearing the ball to worry about where it went. His biggest involvement was in the knock-down header on the touchline that led to Costa Rica's single goal. Like Will Johnson, Saborio came off around the 80th minute.

Kyle Beckerman and Nick Rimando both remained on the bench as the United States eked out a win against minnows Antigua and Barbuda, who were perhaps the better side on the night. With Jermaine Jones picking up a yellow card, ruling him out of the next match, Michael Bradley looking pedestrian at best, and Danny Williams basically uninvolved throughout, it wouldn't be too much a surprise to see Real Salt Lake's captain in the fray against Guatemala. Interestingly, the only players to show particularly well were MLS players, as Graham Zusi, Alan Gordon and Eddie Johnson all had good nights, with the Sounders man grabbing the two US goals.

Finally, Luis Gil played - you guessed it - 80 minutes as the US Under-20s defeated Scotland 2-0. Details aside from that simple fact are slim.