GUADALAJARA, Mexico – Center back Michael Orozco returned to the Puebla starting lineup on Wednesday, going 45 minutes in his team’s 1-0 win over Necaxa in Group 5 of the Copa MX.
The 28-year-old played the first 45 before coming off at halftime, likely because he missed last weekend’s 1-1 draw in Liga MX to Tigres through suspension and needed match practice before this Saturday’s game against Monterrey.
Chicago Fire alumnus Cuauhtémoc Blanco, 41, netted the only goal of the game from the penalty spot as Puebla improved to 10 points from their three games of the group stage.
In Group 1, goalkeeper Austin Guerrero played the full game for Altamira in their 1-0 home defeat to Querétaro to leave them third of the four teams in the group on three points.
Finally, in Group 2, US U-23 international Alonso Hernandez came on for the last 19 minutes of Monterrey’s 0-0 tie on the road against Atlético San Luis, with Los Rayados in second place on five points.
Tom Marshall covers Americans playing in Latin America for MLSsoccer.com. E-mail him at tom.marshall.mex@gmail.com.
