GUADALAJARA, Mexico — While the MLS Cup final between the LA Galaxy and Houston Dynamo is the talk of the soccer world north of the border, the playoffs are about to get underway down in Mexico and one or two US-born players could feature.
CD Guadalajara have been labeled the favorite for the Apertura 2011 title, and Sacramento-born left back Miguel Ángel Ponce is set for his regular starting berth on Saturday at Querétaro (6 pm ET, Univisión).
José Francisco Torres is still recovering from an injury to his left foot and will not feature for Pachuca against Tigres UANL on Sunday (7 pm ET, TeleFutura). With a comeback for the skillful midfielder penciled in for the return game, Torres will be desperate for his team to get a positive result in order to extend his playing time in 2011.
Jonathan Bornstein is unlikely to play after not making it on the pitch during any of Tigres’ first-team matches this season.
In Colombia, Diego Restrepo's América de Cali lost the local derby against Deportivo Cali 1-0 on Wednesday and will be hoping for a better result away at Millonarios (Saturday, 7:20 pm ET). Restrepo looks certain to start on the bench as backup netminder.
Tom Marshall can be reached via tom.marshall.mex@gmail.com or via Twitter: @mexicoworldcup
