GUADALAJARA, Mexico — A few massive games are on tap midweek for Yanks in Latin America as the season draws to a close in leagues south of the border.
First in line is former Chivas USA forward Jesus Padilla (above), who is set to suit up for La Piedad in the first leg of the Apertura playoffs final in Mexico's Liga de Ascenso against Correcaminos on Wednesday (9:30 pm ET; GolTV).
The 24-year-old native of San Jose, Calif., on loan with the second-division club from Chivas de Guadalajara, has appeared in 16 games this season, scoring seven goals for los Reboceros in the process.
Up a flight in Primera División, US international Jonathan Bornstein and his Tigres UANL travel to take on Santos Laguna in the first leg of the Apertura playoffs final (9:30 pm ET, TeleFutura, ESPN DOS).
Bornstein has still not made an appearance this season and wasn't on the bench for either of the semifinal games.
Down in Colombia, 23-year-old goalkeeper Diego Restrepo is in the midst of possibly the most important period of his career to date. The University of Virginia alum is likely to start for América de Cali in their quarterfinal playoff game at Once Caldas (Thursday; 6:30 pm ET, GolTV Canada). The first leg finished in a 0-0 deadlock.
Tom Marshall covers Americans playing in Latin America. He can be reached via tom.marshall.mex@gmail.com.
