GUADALAJARA, Mexico – One point. That’s all Club Tijuana need to make the Liga MX playoffs in the last round of matches of the 2014 Clausura regular season.
Edgar Castillo, Joe Corona, Herculez Gomez, Paul Arriola, Greg Garza and the rest of Xolos’ American legion will look to book their postseason ticket at home against reigning champions León on Friday (10:30 pm ET, Azteca America, ESPN Deportes).
León and Tijuana have shared a rivalry that dates back to when both were fighting for promotion in Mexico’s second division, and now a playoff place at the top level is at stake for La Fiera, as well as Xolos.
The math is simple, though: A win or draw would wrap up Tijuana's entrance into the Liguilla, while a loss would leave them anxiously hoping for other results to fall into place over the weekend.
Elsewhere, Gabriel Farfan and Chiapas are still mathematically in the playoff race, but from 14th place, a win over Jonathan Bornstein’s Atlante in the south of Mexico is a necessity, not to mention a whole host of other results going their way (10 pm ET, Univision Deportes).
Bornstein’s already-relegated side will be playing purely for pride in its last game in the top division.
Jose Torres and Tigres UANL are officially eliminated and have no chance of getting into the playoffs, but are at home and will be looking to will look to spoil Atlas’ run at the postseason (Saturday, 8 pm ET, Univision Deportes).
Over at Puebla, who beat out Atlante to keep their spot in the top flight, DaMarcus Beasley and Michael Orozco Fiscal are both fitness concerns for the team’s final game at home against Morelia (Sunday, 1 pm ET, Azteca America, ESPN Deportes).
In Mexico’s second division, Necaxa’s Sonny Guadarrama and Ventura Alvarado travel to Guadalajara to face Estudiantes Tecos in the semifinal second leg of the playoffs (Saturday, 8 pm ET). The first leg finished 0-0.
Tom Marshall covers Americans playing in Latin America for MLSsoccer.com. E-mail him at tom.marshall.mex@gmail.com.
