GUADALAJARA, Mexico – Herculez Gomez and Jose Torres both started as Tigres defeated Cruz Azul 1-0 on Saturday in Estadio Universitario.
Torres featured in central midfield and continued his recent good form over the 90 minutes, sending Gerardo Lugo through on goal in the 31st minute with a defense-splitting pass. Gomez put in a hard-working shift up front for the 75 minutes he was on the pitch. It was his fourth consecutive Liga MX start. The result lifting Tigres into fourth position in the league and on the brink of the playoffs.
Michael Orozco’s Puebla didn’t have a great Saturday, only drawing 1-1 against relegation rivals Leones Negros. The American defender featured on the right side of a back three and came off in the 70th as coach José Luis “Chelis” Sánchez Solá put on a midfielder in search of the three points.
Also Saturday, Edgar Castillo’s Atlas lost 2-0 at home to Toluca, with the left back keeping up his record of playing every minute of every game so far this Apertura 2014.
In Mexico’s second division, Daniel Cuevas debuted in the Ascenso MX for Lobos BUAP and did so in style by netting the opening goal in his team’s 3-1 win over Merida.
Marco Vidal went the full 90 minues in Mineros de Zacatecas’ 1-0 road victory against Coras, also on Friday.
In Saturday matches, ‘keeper Austin Guerrero helped Altamira to a 2-1 win over Juan Pablo Ocegueda’s Alebrijes de Oaxaca, with both Americans completing the game.
Finally, Stevie Rodriguez went 74 minutes as Dorados de Sinaloa lost 1-0 at home against Irapuato.
Tom Marshall covers Americans based in Mexico for MLSsoccer.com.
