GUADALAJARA, Mexico – Joe Corona and Greg Garza were battered and bruised during Club Tijuana’s 1-1 draw against Leones Negros in Estadio Caliente on Friday, but completed the 90 minutes for their side before they join up with the United States national team this weekend.
Corona filled in in the center of midfield, with Xolos suffering from a mini injury crisis at present, and was struck in the head by Oscar Vera in the 3rd minute and forced to wear first a bandage and then what looked like a swimming cap for the remainder of the match.
Garza is still wearing his protective face gear and was forced off temporarily in the 69th minute for treatment on his left foot. The left back burst through late on in the match and screwed a shot from the edge of the penalty area, while Corona was neat and tidy in possession without dominating the midfield.
The other American involved was Paul Arriola, who put in a couple of good crosses from the right wing during the 18 minutes he featured. The final whistle was accompanied by boos from the home fans after a stale game of few chances against one of the strugglers so far in the Liga MX’s Apertura 2014.
In Mexico’s second division, Sonny Guadarrama went 90 minutes and picked up a yellow card in Atlante’s 1-1 home draw with San Luis.
Tom Marshall covers Americans playing in Latin America for MLSsoccer.com. E-mail him at tom.marshall.mex@gmail.com.
