As usual, MLS-based players and others with MLS roots were all over the lineups of Canada and the United States in their matches on Tuesday, with Seattle’s Jordan Morris chesting home the equalizer in the USMNT’s 1-1 friendly draw with Uruguay and Vancouver Whitecaps academy product Alphonso Davies lashing the game-winner for Les Rouges in their 1-0 Concacaf Nations League win over Cuba in the Cayman Islands.
But that was just the start of the international action for MLSers across the hemisphere. Here's a rundown.
Los Cuscatlecos stunned in CNL
One of the night’s more surprising CNL results took place in rainy Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic, where the home side upset El Salvador 1-0 via a set-piece header from Jairo Bueno, aided by a Jonathan Jimenez red card.
Three MLSers appeared for the visitors as San Jose’s Darwin Ceren and LAFC’s Rodolfo Zelaya started in midfield and attack, respectively, while Portland Timbers midfielder Andres Flores came off the bench – but none could prevent the upset in Group B of League B.
Columbus Crew SC goalkeeper Eloy Room backstopped Curacao's 1-1 draw with Haiti at Stade Sylvio Cator in Port-au-Prince, making several saves in a result that keeps the Dutch island top of CNL Group D of League A. New England Revolution Homegrown Zach Herivaux got the start for Haiti, and FC Cincinnati attacker Derrick Etienne came off the bench in a game overshadowed by the sudden death, via heart attack, of Room’s teammate Jairzinho Pieter the day before.
Goals aplenty in West Indies
MLS talent figured heavily in the 2-2 CNL draw between Trinidad & Tobago and Martinique at Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain on Monday night. Minnesota United playmaker Kevin Molino scored the opener for the Soca Warriors and Toronto FC's Ryan Telfer – who's currently on loan at Canadian Premier League side York9 – doubled the advantage from close range.
But the visitors stormed back down the stretch to snatch a point as a T&T own goal cut into the lead before Seattle’s Jordy Delem, playing in defense on this occasion, fired home a loose ball after a set piece to draw Les Matinino level and keep the two sides level in Group C of League A.
Also on Monday, FC Cincy defender Alvas Powell ranged forward from his fullback spot to bag a brace for Jamaica in their 4-0 road rout of Guyana, a match that also featured New York Red Bulls defender Kemar Lawrence and Philadelphia Union goalkeeper Andre Blake. The Reggae Boyz are dominating Group C of CNL League B so far, with two wins out of two and a +10 goal differential.
Tata's El Tri takes a Texas tumble
Tata Martino | USA Today Sports Images
Elswhere, former Atlanta United coach Gerardo "Tata" Martino's flying start to life as Mexico's manager took a bruising reality check from his homeland in San Antonio, as Argentina exploited El Tri errors to score four first-half goals en route to a 4-0 win at the Alamodome, the first loss of Tata’s tenure. LA Galaxy midfielder Jonathan dos Santos went the full 90 for Mexico, while his teammate Uriel Antuna was an unused substitute.
The Houston Dynamo's Alberth Elis started and scored the winner for Honduras in their 2-1 home friendly win over Chile, who gave Colorado Rapids striker Diego Rubio a full 90 up top and brought Dynamo defender Jose Bizama off the bench. Honduras' XI also featured Houston's Maynor Figueroa, FC Dallas' Bryan Acosta and Whitecaps loan pickup Michaell Chirinos.
Star Sounders striker Raul Ruidiaz got another runout up top for Peru on Tuesday as Los Incas upset Brazil's mighty Seleção 1-0 at the LA Coliseum via a late Luis Abram strike. Meanwhile his Seattle teammate Xavier Arreaga started for Ecuador, as did Orlando City midfielder Sebastian Mendez, in their 3-0 defeat of Bolivia at Estadio Alejandro Serrano Aguilar in Cuenca, Ecuador.
D.C. United's Junior Moreno put in a solid midfield shift and Galaxy fullback Rolf Feltscher also started for Venezuela as they held Colombia to a scoreless draw in Tampa, Florida. Real Salt Lake winger Jefferson Savarino made a substitute appearance for the Vinotinto.
