GUADALAJARA, Mexico – The rebranded Liga MX is less than two weeks away and Americans playing south of the border are busy getting minutes in their legs in preseason action ahead of the big kickoff.
Herculez Gomez was in familiar surroundings on Sunday evening at his old stomping grounds, The Home Depot Center, but his Santos Laguna side fell 2-0 to newly promoted Club León.
The US international and former LA Galaxy man started the game and created a good chance with for Gerardo Lugo in the 32nd minute, but was brought off at halftime.
In Monterrey, Michael Orozco Fiscal’s San Luis lost 2-0 to Tigres UANL, but the former Philadelphia Union man played the full game and seems to be in line to be a first-choice center back for the upcoming season.
For Tigres, Jonathan Bornstein came off the bench for the last 30 minutes of the games, first as left back and then in the center of the midfield.
Bornstein’s loan move to Atlante will be definitively called off if it isn’t completed by Tuesday, meaning the former Chivas USA captain will either stay at Tigres or move outside of Mexico.
DaMarcus Beasley still hasn’t featured in Puebla’s undefeated preseason, but reports from Puebla’s medical team suggest he will be back training with the first team from today and could play a part in the Poblanos matches on Thursday against Pachuca and on Saturday against either Jaguares or León.
Just outside San Diego, Club Tijuana demolished the NPSL’s San Diego Flash 6-1 last Friday. Edgar Castillo was the only one of Xolos’ legion of Yanks to start the game, but it was Joe Corona who impressed when he came on at halftime.
The San Diego State alum scored with a right-footer just two minutes after entering the field and set up a goal for Tijuana seven minutes later.
Young midfielder and U-17 World Cup veteran Alejandro Guido also came on late in the game for another preseason appearance with the first team.
Finally, in a rare high-profile soccer game in Chattanooga, Tenn., Club América defeated José Torres’ Pachuca team 1-0 on Saturday.
“El Gringo” played 86 minutes of the game in front of around 13,000 spectators, another positive signal that he appears to have caught the eye of incoming coach Hugo Sánchez.
Tom Marshall covers Americans playing in Latin America for MLSsoccer.com. E-mail him at tom.marshall.mex@gmail.com.
