Defender Michael Orozco’s name will forever be linked in US soccer folklore with that goal in Estadio Azteca, and he was back continuing the good vibe at the same stadium on Saturday.
Orozco helped Puebla to tie Club América 0-0, picking up a vital point in the relegation battle against the reigning Liga MX champion. He played on the right side of a back three and was efficient in both his distribution and in containing the substantial attacking threat of Michael Arroyo and Darío Benedetto down the home side’s left.
América’s Ventura Alvarado made his first appearance of the Liga MX season when he came on in the 62nd minute for Mexico international Paul Aguilar as Las Aguilas searched for the winner, while Herculez Gomez was an unused substitute for La Franja.
Over in Monterrey, also on Saturday, Club Tijuana counter-attacked with aplomb to make it two wins from two after its 2-1 away victory.
Greg Garza took up his usual position at left back, while Joe Corona returned to Liga MX action for the first time since Oct. 17, coming off the bench in the 75th minute. Garza was cautioned in the 57th for a late challenge, but got the better of Tigres’ key attacking element Joffre Guerrón over the 90 minutes.
Later on Saturday, Edgar Castillo’s Atlas slipped up on the road to Chiapas, falling 3-1 in its first defeat of the season. Castillo was beaten by Luis “Chaka” Rodríguez down the right wing for Chiapas’ opener in the 53rd and was slack in marking the same player in the build up to the second. The former Santos Laguna defender was taken off in the 65th. It was the first time Castillo hadn’t completed a full league match since he joined the club last summer.
In games on Friday in Mexico’s second division, Marco Vidal went the full 90 in Mineros de Zacatecas’ 1-1 tie against his former club Lobos BUAP, Juan Pablo Ocegueda also completed the game in Alebrijes de Oaxaca’s 2-0 away loss to Atlante, and Emanuel Guzman came on at halftime in Mérida’s 4-4 draw at home to Irapuato.
On Saturday, Austin Guerrero was in goal as Altamira lost 3-1 against San Luis, with Stevie Rodriguez coming on in the 65th during Dorados de Sinaloa’s 4-1 loss on the road to Celaya.
