A game of political football became a friendly in every sense of the word on Tuesday as the New York Cosmos defeated Cuba in an exhibition match that underscored thawing ties between the United States and its bitter Cold War foe. The first appearance on Cuban soil of a professional US sports team in 16 years turned out to be a one-sided encounter, with the Cosmos romping to a comfortable 4-1 win over their amateur opponents.
But the result at the dilapidated Pedro Marrero Stadium was almost a footnote to the occasion, where not even a tropical downpour could dampen the carnival mood of several thousand fans who paid around four US cents a ticket to attend. The footballing milestone is seen as the first step of new era in sporting ties between the United States and Cuba, whose governments are seeking to bury five decades of bitter Cold War antagonism following a historic rapprochement. "Football brings people together and we saw this today in Havana," said Cosmos star Raul, the former Real Madrid and Spain striker. "It was an honour to play in this game."
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