GUADALAJARA, Mexico – It wasn’t the busiest weekend for Gringos in Latin America, with a couple more than usual spending most of their games warming the bench, but there were some positives.
At the Estadio Azteca on Sunday, José Francisco Torres' Pachuca could not find the back of the net, as they lost their unbeaten record for the season, falling behind 1-0 against Club América and missing out on the chance to move into first place in the league.
“El Gringo” Torres played the full 90 minutes in central midfield, going close to scoring in the 38th minute with an audacious chip from 35 yards. The 24-year-old Texan received a yellow card in the 69thminute after fouling Christian Benítez from behind.
There were no signs of the sprained ankle he suffered midweek, as Torres displayed his usual bright, wide range of passing ahead of the announcement this week of the US squad that will face Italy on Feb. 29.
Also Sunday, DaMarcus Beasley went 75 minutes for Puebla as they let a 1-0 lead slip away and fell 2-1 to Morelia in the Estadio Cuauhtémoc, with the winner scored when Beasley was off the field. Beasley had a good chance in the first half to open the scoring for Puebla, but blasted the ball over the bar from the edge of the penalty area.
There was better news for Club Tijuana's Yanks.
Edgar Castillo played another full 90 minutes, while Joe Corona went 85 minutes in the Xolos' 2-0 road victory in La Corregidora against Querétaro.
The pair combined for Tijuana's first goal in a set piece straight off the training ground, with Castillo laying off a free kick for Corona, whose low cross led to José Sand's opener. The dangerous Castillo also had a chance to make it 3-0, but his shot went just wide of the post. Both Castillo and Corona were also booked.
Herculez Gomez came off the bench for the final 11 minutes of Santos Laguna’s game against Monterrey on Saturday, and the forward was on the field when Los Guerreros equalized from a corner to make it 1-1. Santos are in third place in the league, level on 14 points with leaders Tigres UANL and Morelia.
Reigning champs Tigres tied Atlas 0-0 on Saturday, with Jonathan Bornstein an unused substitute.
Michael Orozco Fiscal also dressed but did not feature for San Luis in their 0-0 tie against Chivas.
In the Liga de Ascenso, Jesús Padilla played the final 27 minutes in La Piedad’s 2-1 victory over the Dorados de Sinaloa.
In Chile, Jimmy Maurer, wearing the No. 1 shirt, was on the bench for Universidad de Concepción for their 1-1 tie with Cobresal.
Tom Marshall covers Americans playing in Latin America. E-mail him at tom.marshall.mex@gmail.com.
