GUADALAJARA, Mexico – Greg Garza will be missing as Club Tijuana search for their first win of the season on Friday at Estadio Caliente, with Gabriel Farfan's Chiapas the visitors (10:30 pm ET, Azteca America) in the fifth round match of Liga MX's 2014 Apertura.
Garza took a blow to his nose in training during the week and underwent surgery that will keep him out, with US Under-20 international John Requejo Jr. a possible replacement at left back. Joe Corona and Paul Arriola are also in the hunt for minutes for Xolos, who have just two points from their four games so far this season.
Also Friday, Jonathan Bornstein's third-placed Querétaro host Veracruz (8 pm ET, Azteca America).
On Saturday, Tigres UANL's American duo of Jose Torres and Herculez Gomez travel to face a Puebla side without the suspended Michael Orozco (6 pm ET, Azteca America). A win for Tigres would consolidate their place in the playoff spots, while La Franja's priority is avoiding relegation.
League-leading Club América – featuring young defender Ventura Alvarado – host last-place Morelia (6 pm ET, Univision Deportes), while Edgar Castillo's Atlas – currently in second – face Guadalajara rivals Leones Negros (10 pm ET, Univision Deportes).
In Mexico's second division, Daniel Cuevas' Lobos BUAP play Correcaminos at home (Fri., 6 pm ET), with Marco Vidal's Mineros de Zacatecas at Altamira (Sat., 7 pm ET).
Stevie Rodriguez and Dorados de Sinaloa host Zacatepec (9 pm ET), while Sonny Guadarrama's Atlante travel to face the Texan's former club Mérida (7 pm ET).
Finally, US U-23 international Juan Pablo Ocegueda and Alebrijes de Oaxaca play Celaya at home.
Tom Marshall covers Americans playing in Latin America for MLSsoccer.com. E-mail him at tom.marshall.mex@gmail.com.
