GUADALAJARA, Mexico – No doubt Joe Corona and Jose Torres were disappointed to be left out of the US squad to play Costa Rica and Mexico, but there is no time to feel sorry for themselves, with both involved in key Liga MX matches this weekend.
Torres and Tigres take on the high-flying Veracruz in the Estadio Luis “Pirata” Fuente on Saturday and could finish the weekend in a playoff position with a victory (6 p.m. ET, Univision Deportes).
Later Saturday, Corona’s Club Tijuana head south to face Chiapas FC (10 p.m. ET, Univision Deportes).
Edgar Castillo – the only Xolos player in the US squad – will likely start, with Paul Arriola and Greg Garza also available as Tijuana seeks to move into the top half of the league.
The other possible American involvement on Saturday in Mexico is Alonso Hernandez, who will be hoping for his first minutes under new coach José Guadalupe “Profe” Cruz against Atlas (8 p.m. ET, UniMas).
On Sunday, DaMarcus Beasley and Michael Orozco Fiscal are set to feature for Puebla before heading to Florida to meet up with the US national team.
It is only the eighth round of matches, but La Franja really needs a victory at home against last-placed Atlante if it holds serious playoff pretensions (1 p.m. ET, Azteca America).
Down in the second division, Marco Vidal’s Lobos BUAP host Cruz Azul Hidalgo (Friday, 7 p.m. ET), Sonny Guadarrama’s Necaxa is at home to Merida (Friday, 9 p.m. ET) and Jesus Padilla’s Dorados travel to Altamira (Saturday, 9 p.m. ET).
In Brazil, it is an important weekend for Freddy Adu,who performed well midweek in the Copa Sudamericana, but will be desperate to make his mark in the Brasileiro.
His side Bahia plays away against Portuguesa on Saturday (5:30 p.m. ET).
In Costa Rica, Moises Hernandez’s Saprissa is at home to Uruguay (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET).
Tom Marshall covers Americans playing in Latin America for MLSsoccer.com. E-mail him at tom.marshall.mex@gmail.com.
