GUADALAJARA, Mexico – There was plenty of food for thought this weekend for Americans down south, with some good performances, as well as some forgettable ones.
Club Tijuana defeated Toluca 1-0 on Sunday night to move to the top of the Liga MX. Edgar Castillo started and completed the full game for the Xolos and was a menace on the left wing.
In the 56th minute, he skillfully passed three players in his own half, drawing chants of “olé” from the crowd in the Estadio Caliente. He also drilled the ball in the net on the 68th, but the effort was correctly ruled out for offside.
Joe Corona started on the bench but entered the field in the 62nd minute, playing in an attacking midfield role and setting up drives forward as Tijuana sought to get the goal to seal the game.
On Saturday, Herculez Gomez started his first league game for Santos Laguna since Aug. 18 and opened the scoring in the Estadio Corregidora against Querétaro in the 37th minute.
Gomez latched onto a through ball, rounded the ‘keeper easily and slotted the ball into an open net. It wasn’t enough to earn Santos the three points, though, with Querétaro equalizing in the second half. The American was taken off in the 64th. Benji Joya suited up for Santos, but didn’t get on the field.
In was a rough Sunday for Michael Orozco Fiscal, who went 90 minutes in shaky San Luis’ 4-0 loss at Jaguares. The former Philadelphia Union man was indecisive in cutting out a long ball for the third goal and Jhon Cordoba edged ahead of him and charged through to score.
In Mexico’s Clásico, Jesus Padilla made a four-minute cameo as Chivas beat archrivals Club América 3-1 on Saturday at Estadio Azteca.
José Torres may well get the call-up on Monday from Jurgen Klinsmann, but he was left on the bench for Pachuca’s 1-1 draw with Club León on Saturday.
One player that is unlikely to be called up is Jonathan Bornstein, but he made the game-day roster for Tigres UANL, who lost 2-1 to Puebla in the Estadio Universitario. It was the first time Bornstein was named to the 18 since early August.
DaMarcus Beasley wasn’t named to Puebla’s roster after failing to recover from a rib injury, which isn’t thought to be serious.
In the Liga de Ascenso, Marco Vidal was the only Yank to see action. He completed the 90 minutes for Lobos BUAP in their 2-1 victory over Universidad de Guadalajara.
In the Under-20s, Stevie Rodriguez got his first goal for Club Tijuana when he slotted in a penalty in the 42nd minute.
Finally, in Colombia, goalkeeper Kevin Piedrahita was given the starting spot for Itaguí in their 4-0 demolition of Deportes Quindio. Piedrahita played well in his third appearance for the club and the victory moved his team up to second place in Colombia’s first division.
Tom Marshall covers Americans playing in Latin America for MLSsoccer.com. E-mail him at tom.marshall.mex@gmail.com.
