TAMPA, Fla. — Despite Freddy Adu's best efforts, the United States under-23 team was held to a 1-1 tie by Cuba tonight in the Americans' opener of Olympic qualifying in soccer's North and Central American and Caribbean region.

Adu had six shots on goal, but only one found the net. It came in the 14th minute, when he powered one in with his left foot to give the U.S. a 1-0 lead.

But Cuba, with far fewer shot attempts (19-6) and shots on goal (9-4), made the most of its limited opportunities in the first under-23 match between the countries.

Roberto Linares scored in the 42nd minute on a left-footed shot from inside the penalty area off an assist by Yordany Alvarez.

"I feel like we had a lot of chances, but we were a bit unlucky," Adu said. "We're going to go back to the drawing board."

The United States, which failed to qualify for the 2004 Athens Olympics, is the favorite in Group A.

Honduras defeated Panama 1-0 in the tournament opener. The top two teams in the group advance to the March 20 semifinals in Nashville, Tenn., along with the top two teams from Group B, which is based in Carson, Calif. The two finalists earn Olympic berths.

For the first 41 minutes, the U.S. dominated. Adu not only scored, but hit the post in the first minute and had another shot in the 31st minute from 20 yards out punched over the net by Cuba goalkeeper Jose Manuel Miranda.

The U.S. squad had numerous other scoring chances, particularly in the second half. In the 55th minute, Adu passed perfectly to Robbie Findley to set up a one-on-one opportunity, but Findley's shot was stopped by Miranda.

Fourteen minutes later, a diving Miranda, who had eight saves, knocked away Dax McCarty's shot to thwart another U.S. attempt. Adu had one final chance to give the U.S. the lead. But his free kick from 25 yards away in the 90th minute curved just wide.

In the first game, Hendry Thomas scored in the 90th minute for Honduras.