Forward Maikel Galindo and reserve goalkeeper Odelin Molina failed to appear and a Spanish-language television station reported that they did not arrive at the stadium with the team and could not be seen on the Cuban's bench.

Asked if the players had defected, Concacaf spokesman Steve Torres issued a statement saying: ``This is a matter for US Immigration and the Cuban federation.''

A spokesman for US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Seattle, where the Cubans played their first two games, said one of the Cubans was possibly ``out of status.''

Mike Milne of ICE would not reveal the player's identity or the specifics of the player's immigration problem, but said being out of status can refer to having an incorrect visa.

The player, who was interviewed by ICE, was suspected of committing an administrative violation, not a criminal violation, Milne said.

The player was given a notice to appear before an immigration judge in the Executive Office of Immigration Review, released on his own recognizance and is free to travel anywhere in the United States, Milne said.

``I am not confirming or denying that he defected,'' Milne added.

The Cubans lost the Group B game 2-1 as Atiba Hutchinson and Ali Gerba scored second-half goals, but the Canadians were all but eliminated in the first round for the second successive time. Needing to beat Cuba by three goals for a realistic chance to reach the quarterfinals, Hutchinson put Canada up 2-0 in the 87th minute with an unassisted goal. But Cuba's Alain Cervantes dashed the Canadians' hopes with a goal in stoppage time.

Canada still has the slimmest of hopes to advance, needing Jamaica to beat Mexico by six goals Wednesday.

Also in Foxboro, the United States drew 0-0 with Costa Rica to take first place in Group B despite failing to win for the first time in 19 first-round matches since 1991.

The Americans and Costa Ricans both finished the round-robin with seven points, but the US team gets the easier quarterfinal for scoring six goals and conceding just one; Costa Rica scored four goals against one conceded.

In addition to the blemish on its perfect record, the US team lost Frankie Hejduk for the quarterfinal when he was given a yellow card in the 87th minute for diving. The defender also was booked in the first match, against Cuba.

The game was far different from the last match between the teams, a World Cup qualifier in Salt Lake City last month won 3-0 by the US. Both teams already had qualified for the quarterfinals of tournament, the championship of the North and Central American and Caribbean region.

In Group A in Miami, Abel Aguilar and Hector Hurtado scored in a three-minute span in the second half, giving Colombia to a 2-0 victory over Trinidad and Tobago.

Colombia broke through in the 75th minute when Aguilar took a shot from the right wing on Jaime Castrillon's crossing header.

Hurtado added an insurance goal in the 78th minute. Martin Arzuaga centered a pass to an open Hurtado, who raced into the left wing of the penalty area and scored inside the right post.

Colombia, which lost its first two games, gained a berth in the quarterfinals when Canada defeated Cuba.

Also in Miami, Samuel Caballeros scored with 10 minutes remaining to give Honduras a 1-0 victory over Panama. The win assured Honduras a first-place finish in the the group and a berth in the quarterfinals against Costa Rica. Panama finished second and also advanced.

``Anytime the national team wins, it lifts our country's spirits,'' Honduras head coach Jose De La Paz said.

``This accomplishment is a great accomplishment, but we also want to do even better.''