GUADALAJARA, Mexico – DaMarcus Beasley’s Puebla fell to a last-minute wonder-goal from Cruz Azul’s Marco Fabian as La Franja lost 1-0 to La Máquina on Saturday in the Liga MX, despite controlling the game.
Beasley (above) had come on for Puebla at halftime and played on the left wing – in a more attacking role than he has recently – and three minutes later almost handed Rubén Omar Romano’s side the lead, when the ball fell to him two meters from goal, but a last ditch tackle stopped the 31-year-old poking the ball into the net.
The former Chicago Fire winger also played a key part in Puebla’s best move of the game three minutes later, when he filtered a ball through to Saúl Villalobos on the left wing to cross and gift Luis Noriega a golden opportunity to open the scoring.
Puebla’s Michael Orozco Fiscal is fast being the most consistent American in the Liga MX this season in terms of playing time and performance and was again solid over 90 minutes on right of Romano’s back three, as Puebla dropped to 14th place in the league.
Also Saturday, Jose Torres came off the bench in the 78th for Tigres UANL in their 0-0 tie at Chiapas, leaving the team in last place in the Liga MX and the only side without a victory in the Clausura.
There was better news for Jonathan Bornstein. The former Chivas USA left back came on in the 73rd for his Liga MX debut for Atlante, who won 1-0 at Pachuca on Saturday to reduce the gap to Atlas in the relegation table to six points.
Gabriel Farfan started for Chiapas' U-20s match against the same opposition, while his brother Michael Farfan featured for Cruz Azul in their U-20s game against Puebla.
In Mexico’s second division, Sonny Guadarrama went 59 minutes in Necaxa’s 2-1 loss at Mérida, with Phoenix-born defender Alvarado Ventura playing the full game.
Tom Marshall covers Americans playing in Latin America for MLSsoccer.com. E-mail him at tom.marshall.mex@gmail.com.
