GUADALAJARA, Mexico — With four Americans just back in Mexico following their jaunt with the US national team on Wednesday, it's back down to Primera División business this weekend with some mouthwatering matchups.
Joe Corona's Club Tijuana play host to DaMarcus Beasley's Puebla on Sunday (3 pm ET, Fox Deportes), pitting a young, up-and-coming US-born winger currently plying his trade South of the Border against a fellow winger who has been there, done that, worn the T-shirt and won 93 caps for the USMNT in the process.
Tijuana come into the game after a fine 3-1 victory away against Santos last weekend, whereas Beasley's Puebla have lost their last two games.
After a surprise start and a solid 90 minutes for former Philadelphia Union defender Michael Orozco Fiscal against Mexico in his old stomping grounds, his club side San Luis face a tricky home game against current CONCACAF Champions League holders Monterrey on Saturday (6 pm ET, TeleFutura).
Club América's Edgar Castillo was given his chance at left back in the 1-1 tie against Mexico but knows he has to be starting for his club side to consolidate the spot. So far he has started only one of América's first three league games.
He will be hoping coach Carlos Reinoso gives him the nod for Saturday's game at Tigres UANL (7 pm ET, Telemundo), especially as fellow American left back Jonathan Bornstein plays for Tigres. Bornstein has yet to see any game time this season for the Monterrey club but would love to start this one.
Estudiantes Tecos have sacked coach José Luis “Chelís” Sánchez — who made vast changes to the squad in the offseason, including bringing in 29-year-old striker Herculez Gomez — and are slightly up in the air as they make the short trip to fellow Guadalajara team Atlas on Saturday night (9:45 pm ET, Galavisión).
Texas-born central midfielder José Francisco Torres joins back up with his Pachuca side from the USMNT squad for the Tuzos' home game against Toluca (8 pm ET).
Guadalajara, who feature 22-year-old left back Miguel Ángel Ponce, kick off the round of matches in the Primera División on Friday night away at Morelia (9:10 pm ET, Fox Deportes).
In other games involving Americans, Texas native Sonny Guadarrama will be looking for a first-team chance during Atlante's home game against Querétaro and Marco Vidal is likely to start in León's game away at former club Indios de Ciudad Juárez in the Liga de Ascenso.
Further south, 22-year-old winger Diego Chávarri's Sporting Cristal are struggling near the bottom of the Copa Movistar in Peru and face a tricky game against leaders Alianza Lima on Saturday.
Tom Marshall can be reached at tom.marshall.mex@gmail.com or via Twitter: @mexicoworldcup
