GUADALAJARA, Mexico – With their heads no doubt held particularly high after the national team’s scoreless tie midweek against El Tri in the Estadio Azteca, it’s back to domestic action for Yanks down south.
Fresh from helping to secure the vital point on Tuesday, Herculez Gomez will be a likely starter in Santos Laguna’s home game Saturday against Querétaro, as the Guerreros look to close the gap at the top of the league (9 pm ET, UniMas).
Fellow national-teamer Joe Corona and Club Tijuana travel to Toluca to face the Diablos Rojos with the possibility that they could slip out of the playoff places if they don’t win (Sat, 7 pm ET, Univision, Univision Deportes).
Also for Club Tijuana, Edgar Castillo is set to make a return, three weeks after breaking bones in his face in the game against Atlas that caused him to miss out on national team action. He will be wearing a special mask for the next two months. Greg Garza is also in the frame for Xolos.
On Sunday is the game of the weekend for followers of Americans down south, with Jose “Gringo” Torres and his Tigres UANL side locking horns with fellow USMNT duo DaMarcus Beasley and Michael Orozco Fiscal in Puebla (2 pm ET, Azteca America, ESPN Deportes).
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Tigres are in first place in the Liga MX, while 13-place Puebla could do with the three points to not fall from within reach of the playoff places.
Also Sunday is Mexico’s superclásico between Chivas and Club América and there could be American involvement (10 pm ET, Telemundo, Telemundo Deportes). Phoenix native and center back Ventura Alvarado is in the mix to replace the suspended Diego Reyes in the starting lineup for what would be the biggest game in his fledgling career.
In the Ascenso MX, Marco Vidal’s Lobos BUAP host Irapuato on Friday (6 pm ET), while Sonny Guadarrama’s Mérida travel to Veracruz on Saturday (8 pm ET).
In Costa Rica, FC Dallas loanee Moises Hernandez and his Saprissa side are in action against Uruguay (Sun, 6 pm ET).
Finally, in Colombia, Kevin Piedrahita’s Itagüí are at home against Deportivo Cali (Sat, 4:15 pm ET).
Tom Marshall covers Americans playing in Latin America for MLSsoccer.com. E-mail him at tom.marshall.mex@gmail.com.
