GUADALAJARA, Mexico – It was a busy night of action Tuesday for Americans in Mexico, with three netting in the Copa MX.
Amando Moreno stole in and finished a right-wing ball from close to the penalty spot to open the scoring in the 4th minute for Club Tijuana in their 2-2 tie against Coras in Group 3.
However, it was a mixed night for Moreno, who was substituted out seven minutes after Alejandro Guido received a direct red card for a late challenge in the 21st minute.
John Requejo Jr. went 55 minutes at left back, before making way for Paul Arriola.
The result means Xolos are unbeaten in nine games in all competitions and sit in first place in their Copa MX group.
In Group 4, Stevie Rodriguez – who is on loan from Xolos at Dorados de Sinaloa – latched onto a loose ball inside the penalty area and dispatched a low right-footed shot into the bottom corner of the net for his team’s second in a 3-0 home win over Irapuato.
Rodriguez played 76 minutes in the match, with the victory consolidating Dorados in first place in their group.
The other American scorer on Tuesday was Sonny Guadarrama, who netted Atlante’s only goal in their 1-1 home tie with Toluca in Group 5.
Guadarrama launched an acrobatic effort from just inside the area in the 69th and completed the full game, while Californian newcomer Enrique Cardenas made his debut for Los Potros Hierros as a 61st-minute substitute. Atlante sit in last place in their group with no hope of making the knockout stage of the competition, however.
There was also good news for Jonathan Bornstein, who appeared for the first time for Querétaro since picking up an injury last October.
Bornstein went the full 90 minutes in his side’s 1-0 away victory over San Luis in Group 1, taking Gallos Blancos to second in the group, level on points with leaders Santos Laguna.
There was also American involvement in the Copa Libertadores, as Edgar Castillo’s Atlas fell 1-0 in Estadio Jalisco to reigning Colombian champions Santa Fe in Group 1 in their first match of the South American tournament.
Castillo played the full 90 minutes and had a largely quiet night in a competition in which he has previously shone.
Tom Marshall covers Americans based in Mexico for MLSsoccer.com.
