GUADALAJARA, Mexico – It was a largely quiet weekend for Yanks in Latin American, with a few noticeable exceptions.
On Saturday in the Estadio Corona, Herculez Gomez got his first start of the season, and played an important role in Santos Laguna's 5-2 victory over San Luis.
Playing slightly deeper than usual, Gomez, in the 55th minute, slid the ball into the back of the net from a tight angle for his second goal of the season and his second in the past two games.
Gomez also laid off the pass for Santos' second goal of the night, nicely setting up Wednesday's CONCACAF Champions League game against the Seattle Sounders, when he returns with los Guerreros to face his former club at CenturyLink Field.
Michael Orozco Fiscal was an unused substitute for San Luis.
In Puebla on Sunday, DaMarcus Beasley came on for los Camoteros in the 70th minute against Chivas de Guadalajara, a team he almost single-handedly put to the sword the last time the two sides met. It wasn't to be this time, with Beasley unable to do anything to reverse the 2-1 scoreline, leaving Juan Carlos Osorio's Puebla six points off a playoff place.
Jonathan Bornstein again remained on the bench in Tigres UANL's 1-0 victory over Atlante, with coach Ricardo Ferretti continuing with his policy of making minimal substitutions.
Club Tijuana won 2-0 against Estudiantes Tecos in the Tres de Marzo stadium on Friday evening, with Edgar Castillo impressing and setting up the opening goal with a mazy run down the left wing. Joe Corona's entrance at halftime opened up the game for the Xolos, and Greg Garza came on for the last six minutes of the game.
In Guatemala on Sunday, Jeff Cunningham went 80 minutes for Comunicaciones in their 3-0 victory over Heredia.
In Mexico's second division, Jesus Padilla was the only US-born player to see action, coming on for the last eight minutes of La Piedad's 1-1 tie with Club León.
Tom Marshall covers Americans playing in Latin America. He can be reached via tom.marshall.mex@gmail.com
