GUADALAJARA, Mexico – It’s the second round of matches in the Liga MX this weekend, and up to seven Americans could be involved.
First up is Herculez Gomez on Friday evening, when his Santos Laguna side takes on Chivas Guadalajara in the Estadio Corona (10:30 pm ET, Univision Deportes).
Gomez opened his goalscoring account in the first game against San Luis last weekend and will be hoping to take advantage of what is likely to be an inexperienced Chivas backline. Teammate Benji Joya has only an outside chance of being involved after playing for the Under-20 side last weekend.
On Saturday, Club Tijuana host Club León in a repeat of last season’s semifinal (8 pm ET, UniMás – formerly Telefutura). Joe Corona and Edgar Castillo are set to start, while Greg Garza is inching his way back to full fitness after picking up an ankle injury at the back end of last season and may be involved.
On to Sunday, when DaMarcus Beasley, Michael Orozco Fiscal and the rest of the Puebla team will try to pick up their first points of the season. It won’t be easy though, on the road against last season’s runners-up Toluca (1 pm ET, Univision).
Rounding off the weekend in the Liga MX is Isaac Acuña’s Atlante, who host Tigres UANL (Sunday, 7 pm ET, Univision Deportes). Jose Torres will miss out for the second week running with a thigh injury.
In the Ascenso MX, Jesus Padilla returns to Guadalajara with La Piedad to face Estudiantes Tecos on Friday (9 pm ET), while Marco Vidal and Lobos BUAP are also in action away at Correcaminos (Friday, 9:30 pm ET).
Sonny Guadarrama’s Mérida open their campaign with a home game on Saturday against Universidad de Guadalajara (8 pm ET).
Outside of Mexico, Vincenzo Bernardo kicks off his second season with Deportivo Guastatoya on the road against Cobán Imperial on Saturday in Guatemala’s second division (noon ET).
Also in action in the same league is Deportivo Coatepeque’s Edgar Gonzalez. His team faces an away game against Nueva Concepción (1 pm ET), also Saturday.
Tom Marshall covers Americans playing in Latin America for MLSsoccer.com. E-mail him at tom.marshall.mex@gmail.com.
