American Exports: Michael Orozco, Herculez Gomez and Puebla face key match in relegation battle

Puebla's Michael Orozco

US international Michael Orozco’s Puebla takes on Veracruz on Friday in a crucial match in the Liga MX relegation battle (9:30 pm ET, Univision Deportes).

A win for Orozco and Herculez Gomez’sLa Franja side would make it two wins in two in the nascent Clausura 2015 tournament.

Also Friday, Ventura Alvarado’s task of getting minutes under new Club América coach Gustavo Matosas got more difficult with Mexico international Paul Aguilar now back in the squad, but the defender will likely be in the reigning champion’s 18 for its visit to Club Tijuana (10:30 p.m. ET, ESPN Deportes, Azteca America).



Greg Garza is set to start for Xolos, while Joe Corona is still on the comeback trail from his foot injury and may miss out.

Young 20-year-old playmaker Jesus Vazquez was an unused substitute last weekend for Universidad de Guadalajara and will be hoping to feature away at Jonathan Bornstein’s Querétaro, also on Friday (8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN Deportes, Azteca America).

On Saturday, Jose “Gringo” Torres is still feeling the effects of the slipped disk that kept him out of Tigres’ Clausura opener last weekend and is not likely to make the trip to León (9 p.m. ET, Telemundo), although new signing Omar Salgado will be looking to make his debut.

Atlas and Edgar Castillo recorded a solid away victory over Tigres last weekend and will host Morelia in Estadio Jalisco on Saturday (10 p.m. ET, Univision Deportes).

On Sunday, Gabriel Farfan’s Chiapas is on the road to Toluca (1 p.m. ET, Univision Deportes).



In Mexico’s second division, Emanuel Guzman’s Mérida plays away at Alebrijes de Oaxaca (Sat, 6 p.m. ET) – for whom Juan Pablo Ocegueda is out injured – while Marco Vidal’s Mineros de Zacatecas travel to Aguascalientes to face Necaxa at the same time.

Also Saturday, Stevie Rodriguez and Dorados de Sinaloa host San Luis (8 p.m. ET).

In Sunday’s only Ascenso MX game, goalkeeper Austin Guerrero and Atlamira plays at home to Sonny Guadarrama’s Atlante (6 p.m. ET).


Tom Marshall covers Americans based in Mexico for MLSsoccer.com.