Havana Crowned Champion of Cuban Soccer After 24-Year Wait

In a match of high tension and emotion, the capital's team defeated Santiago de Cuba two goals to one this Sunday in the final of the Closing Tournament of the 108th National Soccer League, becoming the island's new champion.

The victory ends a 24-year drought without the title returning to Havana, marking a historic milestone for soccer in the province.

The final, held at La Polar stadium, did not disappoint the nearly one thousand fans who packed the stands and fervently followed every play. The match, characterized by its intensity from the opening whistle, kept all present on edge.

Both teams built opportunities in the first half, demonstrating ambitious, possession-based soccer, but the scoreboard remained unchanged until after the break. It was then that Rigual Herrera finished with precision on a counter-attack in numerical superiority for the Red Devils, unleashing euphoria among the visiting supporters.

However, the equalizer was not long in coming. On the next play, Jean Carlos Iglesias proved shrewder than everyone upon just entering the pitch, pouncing on a loose ball in the area to score the tying goal for Havana. This quick and lethal goal completely changed the dynamics of the match.

The psychological blow for the visitors of being unable to hold the lead dampened their spirits and confused their tactics: the order that had served them well disappeared, and in its place came long hopeful balls.

Trapped in desperation, they relinquished possession and lost control of the midfield, which was exploited by a rival growing in confidence. The decisive goal came in another swift play, when Didier Reinoso, who had electrified the stands after entering as a substitute in the second half, scored the second and definitive goal for Havana.

There was little time left for the eastern team to mount a comeback, and the remainder of the match dissolved into their desperate, fruitless attempts to find the rival goal. The capital's defense, solid and organized, managed to contain the final pushes.

And so the final whistle arrived, and the Havana players lifted the championship crown, culminating a long 24-year wait since Francisco Fariñas led them to the title in the 2000-2001 season. The celebration on the pitch was the culmination of a campaign of great solidity.

"I am very happy, this is the second title of the year after winning the Opening Tournament, the boys have done good work and it is also nice to return a title to Havana after so many years without achieving it," expressed Lázaro Rodríguez, technical director of the champions, to Jit. He highlighted the collective effort of the entire coaching staff and players.

In the bronze medal match, played earlier, Guantánamo defeated Villa Clara, thanks in no small part to goalkeeper Yorlan Urgellés.

The World Cup goalkeeper saved what could have been the winning goal for the Central Express in the final minutes of the match and then stopped two shots in the penalty shootout, as no goals were scored in 90 minutes, thus securing third place for his team.