GUADALAJARA, Mexico – It’s straight back to league graft for Yanks down south this weekend after a break in play for World Cup qualifiers.
Herculez Gomez was the hero on US duty, firing in the game-winning free kick to earn a vital three points for the United States, but his next assignment with Santos Laguna could hardly come any bigger – Club América in the Estadio Azteca (Saturday, 6 pm ET, Univision).
Gomez’s USMNT teammate Jose Torres has a day less to prepare for Pachuca’s Friday game in the Estadio Hidalgo against Morelia and the pressure is very much on Hugo Sanchez’s Tuzos. They currently sit in 13th position (8:30 pm ET, Univision Deportes).
Club Tijuana Yanks Joe Corona, Edgar Castillo and Greg Garza should all be ready to participate in the last game of the weekend in Cancun against Atlante (Sunday, 7 pm ET, Univision Deportes). Castillo missed out on a US call due to a foot injury, but is scheduled to return, barring any setback with the injury.
One man who will have been disappointed not to be called into the US squad is DaMarcus Beasley. The 30-year-old has a big game this weekend though, against Monterrey in the Estadio Cuauhtémoc (Sunday, 1 pm ET, Fox Deportes).
Jonathan Bornstein is also back fit after recovering from a sports hernia and will be available for Tigres UANL’s home game against undefeated Cruz Azul (Saturday, 8 pm ET, Univision Deportes).
Defender Michael Orozco Fiscal returns from the national team squad to the dogfight at the bottom of the Liga MX. His San Luis side faces a tough away game Sunday against Pumas UNAM, still looking for its first win with almost half the regular season gone (1 pm ET, Univision Deportes).
In Mexico’s second division, Isaac Acuña is another returnee from injury. His and Sonny Guadarrama’s Mérida face off against Correcaminos (Saturday 7 pm ET).
Also in action will be Marco Vidal, whose Lobos BUAP host Estudiantes Tecos (Friday, 5 pm ET).
Down into Central America, Moises Hernandez is ready to play his first game for Comunicaciones after his Guatemalan citizenship was finally sorted out. The Cremas host Xelajú on Saturday (8 pm ET).
In Bolivia, Alejandro Melean’s Oriente Petrolero play Bolívar away on Sunday (4 pm ET).
Tom Marshall covers Americans playing in Latin America for MLSsoccer.com. E-mail him at tom.marshall.mex@gmail.com.
