GUADALAJARA, Mexico – Five rounds of matches remain in the Liga MX regular season and all the Americans down south maintain hopes of reaching the postseason.
DaMarcus Beasley will be desperate for his Puebla side to earn points as he returns to the Estadio Azteca to face Club América on Saturday (7 pm ET, UniMas). Last time he was there on March 26, Beasley put in a solid shift for the United States against Mexico and a similarly bold performance will be required if La Franja are to end their three-game losing streak.
Alongside Beasley will be Michael Orozco Fiscal, who has nailed down the right-back spot for Puebla this season.
Up in Tijuana, it’s a midnight start for the Xolos against Herculez Gomez’s Santos Laguna (Galavision, midnight ET). The match not only pits Joe Corona and Edgar Castillo against their USMNT teammate Gomez but is also crucial in the playoff race, with Tijuana in ninth and the Los Guerreros in fourth.
Corona and Castillo come into the game fresh after missing the midweek Copa Libertadores trip to Bolivia, while Gomez was the hero against the Seattle Sounders in the CONCACAF Champions League on Tuesday.
Jose Torres and his Tigres UANL side welcome Rafa Márquez’s Club León on Saturday night, with the Monterrey side looking to hold onto top spot in the league (9 pm ET, UniMas).
In the Ascenso MX, Sonny Guadarrama’s Mérida host Cruz Azul Hidalgo on Saturday (9 pm ET), while Marco Vidal’s Lobos BUAP play away at Pumas Morelos (6 pm ET).
Further south in Costa Rica, Moises Hernandez and Deportivo Saprissa are in action Sunday at Cartagines (6 pm ET).
In Colombia, Kevin Piedrahita and his Itagüí outfit travel to Envigado (Sunday, 6:30 pm ET).
Tom Marshall covers Americans playing in Latin America for MLSsoccer.com. E-mail him at tom.marshall.mex@gmail.com.
