GUADALAJARA, Mexico – Herculez Gomez had a hand in Tigres’ only goal in his third start in a week for the club, with the Monterrey outfit overcoming Veracruz 1-0 on Saturday in Estadio Luis “Pirata” Fuente.
Gomez appeared to have scored when he seemed to turn a low Joffre Guerrón cross into the net in the 24th, but TV replays showed the ball actually came off Veracruz defender Leiton Jiménez.
Gomez went 79 minutes for Tigres, with Jose Torres playing the full game in midfield.
The result puts Tigres in fifth place in the Liga MX and on course to make the playoffs.
Joe Corona and Greg Garza’s Club Tijuana came close to toppling Liga MX high-fliers Monterrey on Saturday, but a late goal from Los Rayados rescued a point in the 1-1 tie.
The Americans featured on the left flank in Estadio Tecnológico, with Corona in the more attacking role and Garza the full back.
Both appear to have cemented their places in the starting XI under Daniel Guzmán and put in solid performances as Tijuana let an important three points slip away.
The draw leaves Xolos in 12th position, three points off the playoff places.
In Mexico’s second division, Sonny Guadarrama went 90 minutes in Atlante’s 2-1 victory over Correcaminos on Friday, while Marco Vidal also completed the full game in Mineros de Zacatecas’ 1-0 away win over Celaya on Saturday.
Also Saturday, US Under-23 teammates Juan Pablo Ocegueda and Stevie Rodriguez met as Alebrijes de Oaxaca took on Dorados de Sinaloa.
Ocegueda played the whole match for home side Alebrijes, with midfielder Rodriguez going 83 minutes for Dorados in the 2-2 draw.
Tom Marshall covers Americans playing in Latin America for MLSsoccer.com. E-mail him at tom.marshall.mex@gmail.com.
