GUADALAJARA, Mexico –Tigres UANL midfielder Jose Torres got his year off to a positive start on the field on Tuesday, netting the only goal in his side’s 1-0 victory at Atlético San Luis in the first round of games in the Copa MX group stage.
Torres (above) completed the full 90 minutes in the center of the pitch, stealing a cross-field pass and coolly finishing in the sixth minute to open his scoring account for 2014.
The 2010 World Cup veteran – who has sporadically been part of Jurgen Klinsmann’s national team since the German took over – missed the first week of the Liga MX season through injury and didn’t get off the bench last weekend.
Fellow Texan Uvaldo Luna also played the full match, while left back Juan Pablo Ocegueda was left on the bench.
Paul Arriola also scored in the Copa MX, but it wasn’t for Club Tijuana. The 18-year-old was moved down to Club Tijuana’s sister outfit Dorados de Sinaloa to get some playing time in the midweek fixtures, in accordance with league rules.
Arriola latched on to a through pass and dispatched the ball under ‘keeper José Martínez in the 53rd to seal his side’s 3-1 victory at Estudiantes Tecos. The former LA Galaxy Academy product was also yellow-carded late in the game following a scuffle with Rodrigo Inigo.
Tijuana U-20 midfielder Alejandro Guido also saw minutes after coming off the bench in the 65th, while Stevie Rodriguez came on for his professional first team debut eight minutes from time.
Daniel Cuevas also made his full first-team debut for Lobos BUAP, but he came off at halftime as his side slumped to a 4-0 home loss to Veracruz.
Finally, Austin Guerrero completed Atlamira’s 1-0 loss at the Estadio Tecnológico against Monterrey.
Tom Marshall covers Americans playing in Latin America for MLSsoccer.com. E-mail him attom.marshall.mex@gmail.com.
