GUADALAJARA, Mexico – MLS may be pausing to honor the international break, but the Liga MX is not. This weekend, a few Americans who didn’t get the call from Jurgen Klinsmann will be in action down south.
Michael Orozco Fiscal will be keen to put in a good performance after missing out on the national team squad as his San Luis take on Atlante on Saturday (8 pm ET, Univision Deportes). Former US Under-20 midfielder Sonny Guadarrama is hoping for minutes for Atlante after being called up from sister club Mérida.
Meanwhile, league leaders Club Tijuana travel to the Estadio Corona on Saturday to face Santos Laguna, with Greg Garza (above) set to deputize at left back due to Edgar Castillo’s premature return from the USMNT with a foot injury (8 pm ET, TeleFutura). Youngsters Alejandro Guido and Stevie Rodriguez are both hoping for first-team minutes for los Xolos.
Jonathan Bornstein is also holding out for playing time as Tigres UANL travel to León on Saturday, as usual left back Jorge Torres Nilo is in Houston with the Mexican national team (8 pm ET).
On Sunday Jose Torres will take to the field for Pachuca in a vital clash in the Ciudad Universitario against an improved Pumas UNAM, no doubt with a slight chip on his shoulder after being snubbed by Klinsmann (1 pm ET, Univision).
In the final game of the weekend, Jesus Padilla will be looking for time when Chivas play Jaguares at Estadio Omnilife on Sunday (6 pm ET, Telemundo).
In the Ascenso MX, Marco Vidal’s Lobos BUAP travel to Toros Neza on Sunday (1 pm ET).
Tom Marshall covers Americans playing in Latin America for MLSsoccer.com. E-mail him at tom.marshall.mex@gmail.com
