GUADALAJARA, Mexico – Three Americans based in Mexico – Joe Corona, Greg Garza and Michael Orozco – were called into Jurgen Klinsmann’s US national team squad to travel to Europe next week, but first they have important Liga MX games to negotiate this weekend.
Orozco’s Puebla are now led by former Chivas USA coach José Luis “Chelís” Sánchez Solá and his first match in charge of the relegation-threatened team is at home to strugglers Morelia (Sat, 6 pm ET, Azteca America).
Orozco was playing on the left or right of a three-player backline under former manager Rubén Omar Romano, but that system may change under Chelís.
On Friday, Club Tijuana is in action at home to struggling Leones Negros (10:30 pm ET, Azteca America).
It has been a mixed Apertura 2014 season so far for Xolos, who could move into a playoff spot with a victory.
Aside from Garza and Corona, Paul Arriola and Alejandro Guido are also in contention for minutes.
Tigres’ American duo of Herculez Gomez and Jose Torres face Gabriel Farfan’s Chiapas in Estadio Universitario (Sat, 8 pm ET, Univision Deportes), while Edgar Castillo’s Atlas are at home in Estadio Jalisco to Santos Laguna (10 pm ET, Univision Deportes).
In Mexico’s second division, Sonny Guadarrama’s Atlante host San Luis on Friday (8 pm ET).
In Saturday games, Stevie Rodriguez and Dorados take on Necaxa in Sinaloa (9 pm ET), while Juan Pablo Ocegueda’s Alebrijes de Oaxaca play host to Zacatepec (8 pm ET).
Tom Marshall covers Americans playing in Latin America for MLSsoccer.com. E-mail him at tom.marshall.mex@gmail.com.
