GUADALAJARA, Mexico – He wasn't in Kansas City with the US national team, but Joe Corona still scored a goal on American soil during the international break as his Club Tijuana drew Santos Laguna 1-1 in a friendly on Sunday in San Antonio.
Corona (above) volleyed one in two minutes before halftime to level the score after Néstor Calderón had put Los Guerreros into the lead in the 40th minute.
Herculez Gomez also started and went 75 minutes against his old team as he inches back to full fitness. The World Cup veteran went close in the 34th when he went through and goal and only had the goalkeeper to beat.
Alongside Gomez and Corona in Tijuana's starting XI were Paul Arriola, who was taken off at halftime, and Greg Garza, who completed the full game in his home state. Santos Laguna’s Benji Joya made a second-half appearance off the bench and went close to setting up Mauro Cejas for what would’ve likely been the winner two minutes from time.
The friendly between the Liga MX sides was part of a double-header at Toyota Field, immediately following the NASL match between the San Antonio Scorpions and FC Edmonton.
In Honduras, forward Kevin Hoyos scored the equalizer and won a penalty as Victoria came from behind to defeat Vida 3-2 on Saturday in the La Ceiba derby in Honduras.
The Argentine-American struck in the 59th minute, glancing a left wing cross into the far corner of the net and was pulled down in the penalty area five minutes later to win the decisive penalty.
The goal continued 22-year-old Hoyos’ dream start to life at Victoria, where he is on loan from Argentine club Estudiantes de La Plata. The former Irvine Strikers player has scored six times in his first month since his Victoria debut.
There wasn’t much else to shout about for Americans in Latin America this weekend, with Freddy Adu once again missing out on Bahia’s matchday squad in their 3-1 defeat to Goiás on Sunday.
In Costa Rica, FC Dallas loanee Moises Hernandez didn’t make the 18 in Saprissa's 2-1 loss on Sunday at Carmelita.
Tom Marshall covers Americans playing in Latin America for MLSsoccer.com. E-mail him at tom.marshall.mex@gmail.com.
