GUADALAJARA, Mexico – Herculez Gomez opened his goal-scoring account for Tigres on an eventful night of action for Americans south of the border on Tuesday in both the Copa MX and CONCACAF Champions League.
Gomez headed in the opener from close range after a left-wing cross in the 56th minute as the Monterrey side overcame Irapuato 2-0 in Estadio Universitario in the Copa MX. It was the Las Vegas native’s first goal since last September, when he scored three for Club Tijuana in the CCL. Gomez went 87 minutes against the Ascenso MX club, and the win moves Tigres into first place in Group 1 with seven points from their three games.
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In other Copa MX action, US U-20 international John Requejo Jr. made his professional first-team debut in Tijuana’s 0-0 tie away to Coras FC in Group 3, with Alejandro Guido and Paul Arriola also starting for Xolos. Left back Requejo went the full 90 minutes, while Guido made way for Fernando Arce Jr. in the 63rd and Arriola played 83 minutes of the draw, which left Tijuana top of the group on five points from three games.
In Group 7, Juan Pablo Ocegueda’s Alebrijes de Oaxaca drew 0-0 away at Chiapas, with the American left back starting and finishing the game, while Emanuel Guzman completed the full match for Mérida in their shock 2-1 home win over Pumas in Group 6.
Finally, in the Champions League, Phoenix, Arizona, native Ventura Alvarado headed in Club América’s third goal in a 6-1 victory over Puerto Rico’s Bayamón in Estadio Azteca. Alvarado steered the ball in at the near post from a corner in the 14th minute and played the full game at left back for Las Aguilas in an easy win to move the Liga MX team above Guatemala’s Comunicaciones on goals scored at the top of Group 8.
Tom Marshall covers Americans playing in Latin America for MLSsoccer.com. E-mail him at tom.marshall.mex@gmail.com.
