GUADALAJARA, Mexico — Thrown into a daunting relegation playoff for his first-ever start, 20-year-old US goalkeeper Kevin Piedrahita was widely named the MVP in América de Cali's match against Patriotas Boyacá on Sunday.
The game finished 1-1, with the return leg scheduled for next Saturday, when América's other American 'keeper, Diego Restrepo, is likely to start in goal after serving a red-card suspension.
In Mexico, Jonathan Bornstein's Tigres UANL took the first-division title on Sunday after defeating Santos 3-1. Bornstein did not dress for the game, but nevertheless earns a championship medal for the Monterrey side.
In the Mexican second-division final, San Jose, Calif.-born forward Jesus Padilla went 51 minutes for La Piedad against Correcaminos on Saturday, but his team lost 1-0 and finished the season as runners-up.
Tom Marshall covers Americans playing in Latin America. He can be reached via tom.marshall.mex@gmail.com.
