GUADALAJARA, Mexico – Americans are set to feature in games all over Latin America this weekend, with seven likely in Mexico’s first division alone.
Michael Orozco Fiscal’s San Luis started off the season with two straight wins, but are desperate for points after a three-game losing streak. LosGladiadores will face an uphill battle as they host Jonathan Bornstein’s Tigres UANL, the reigning Mexican champions, on Saturday (8 pm ET, Galavisión).
The game of weekend in Mexico is on Friday night, when Herculez Gomez will be hoping for more minutes and his first goal for high-flying Santos Laguna in Morelia’s Estadio Morelos (9:10 pm ET, Fox Deportes).
Guadalajara’s Miguel Ángel Ponce will not be involved for his team’s trip to Monterrey after he was injured during the team’s Copa Libertadores game against Deportivo Quito. He is believed to have ligament damage in his right knee, but won’t need surgery, according to the club.
One player who will likely feature is Puebla’s DaMarcus Beasley, who picked up a knock last weekend but should be able to shake it off in time for his team’s trip to Pumas UNAM on Sunday (1 pm ET, Univisión).
Following Pachuca’s 4-3 humdinger last weekend, José Francisco Torres’ unbeaten Tuzos take on relegation strugglers Estudiantes Tecos on Saturday (8 pm ET, TeleFutura).
Club Tijuana and their band of Americans – Edgar Castillo, Joe Corona and Greg Garza – have not won in two games and take on Mexico City club Cruz Azul in the Estadio Caliente on Sunday (3 pm ET).
Cancún-based side Atlante, featuring Sonny Guadarrama, play Toluca on Saturday (10 pm ET, Galavisión).
In Central America, Jeff Cunningham’s Guatemalan adventure continues on Sunday, when his team faces Mictlán (noon ET).
In South America, 23-year-old former Atlanta Silverbacks goalkeeper Jimmy Maurer could make his debut for Universidad de Concepción in the Chilean first division when they play Deportivo Antofagasta (Sunday, 10 am ET).
Bolivia’s Oriente Petrolero, who feature Miami native Alejandro Meleán, host Real Postosí on Sunday (5:30 pm ET).
Meanwhile in Venezuela, Diego Restrepo has yet to debut for Deportivo Táchira, who face Tucanes on Saturday (4:30 pm ET).
Finally, in Mexico’s second division, Marco Vidal’s Club León take on Universidad de Guadalajara (9:45 pm ET) and Jesús Padilla’s La Piedad face Estudiantes de Atlamira (Sunday, 1:30 pm ET).
Tom Marshall covers Americans playing in Latin America. He can be reached via tom.marshall.mex@gmail.com.
