GUADALAJARA, Mexico – Herculez Gomez (pictured above) was dropped to the bench for Club Tijuana on Friday against his former club Santos Laguna, as Xolos fell 3-2 to Los Guerreros in the Liga MX Clausura.
Edgar Castillo was the only American starter for César Farías’ team, with the former Santos player going the full 90 minutes at left back.
In the 12th minute, Castillo shot over the bar, but he was exposed on the defensive side in the 53rd when a long ball caught him out of position and allowed Darwin Quintero in behind to hit a shot against the post.
Joe Corona entered the fray in the 60th just after Xolos had pulled the score to 3-2, playing on the right.
The 23-year-old came close to equalizing when he controlled the ball on his chest, pushed it past a defender and got a shot away, but Oswaldo Sánchez was able to stretch to keep it out 10 minutes from the final whistle.
Gomez came on in the 64th minute and was busy up front as the game opened up late. He almost went through on goal in the 83rd minute when he was tackled just as he was about to pull the trigger.
Greg Garza was an unused substitute for Tijuana and Paul Arriola was not in the 18.
The loss means Xolos extend their winless streak on the road and have now managed a total of just four points of a possible 54 over their last 18 away matches in the Liga MX.
Tom Marshall covers Americans playing in Latin America for MLSsoccer.com. E-mail him attom.marshall.mex@gmail.com.
