GUADALAJARA, Mexico — Former US youth international left back Greg Garza continued his bright start to the season as Club Tijuana overcame Veracruz 3-0 on Saturday.
Garza (above) completed the 90 minutes in an assured display, contributing at both ends of the field in his fourth start in Tijuana’s eight league games this Apertura.
The Dallas-area native was given a relatively easy night defensively as Xolos dominated, but Garza is slowly staking a claim for the full-time starting position, which is currently held by Edgar Castillo, who is away with the US national team.
Paul Arriola came on for Tijuana in the 59th and again looked threatening with his pace and bursts of energy on the right wing. Joe Corona was left on the bench for the second consecutive league game, but will at least be fresh when he joins up with the US national team as a late add to Jurgen Klinsmann's squad ahead of Tuesday's match vs. Mexico.
Also Saturday, Jose Torres went 45 minutes for Tigres UANL in their thrilling come-from-behind 3-3 tie with Guadalajara, in which the home side came from 3-0 down in the last 15 minutes of the game.
The 2010 World Cup veteran – who will also join up with the USMNT for Tuesday's huge World Cup qualifier in Columbus, Ohio – played a decent first half, keeping and using the ball well and even having a couple of shots from outside the area, as Tigres went into the break 1-0 behind.
Meanwhile, Monterrey fell 1-0 to Club América at Estadio Azteca on Saturday afternoon, with striker Alonso Hernandez an unused sub and young Texan goalkeeper Justin Perez making the bench for the first time in his career.
Down in Brazil, Freddy Adu’s Bahia lost 1-0 against Fluminense, with the former Philadelphia Union man an unused sub.
Tom Marshall covers Americans playing in Latin America for MLSsoccer.com. E-mail him at tom.marshall.mex@gmail.com.
