Down South: Jornada 6 Provides Midweek Chances

Posted Saturday, February 20, 2010 by Goal.com

Herculez Gomez scored a goal as all five Americans in the Primera Division saw action.

Midweek action provided a full slate of games for the Americans down in Mexico. Here's how they fared.

Jose Francisco Torres: Started and played 76 minutes in Pachuca's 1-0 loss to Chivas. Torres was active in the midfield for los Tuzos and had one clear scoring chance. He broke down the defense and slipped into the penalty area on the left side. He ripped a shot on goal but Chivas 'keeper Luis Ernesto Michel made a great save to turn him away.

Edgar Castillo: Played 90 minutes in Tigres' 2-1 loss to Santos. Castillo set up Tigres' only goal. He held the ball on the left side of the box and drew two defenders. He then quickly sent the ball over towards the top of the penalty area and David Toledo hammered a 22-yard shot into the back of the net. Castillo though was not quite as fortunate on defense. He let a Santos player slip away from him twice on the same play. Castillo slid and tried to tackle the ball away from Jorge Estrada, but Estrada evaded the slide. Castillo got up, went back towards Estrada and slid again, but again Estrada got past. Estrada then lifted a ball into the center of the box and Daniel Ludueña scored on a tremendous bicycle kick.

Herculez Gomez: Played the final 27 minutes in Puebla's 1-0 win over San Luis. Gomez, who replaced former LA Galaxy teammate Carlos Ruiz, scored the game's only goal, his second of the season. With the match deadloced at 0-0, Gomez took control of a ball near the top of the penalty area. He quickly sped past a pair of San Luis defenders and, while running to his right, slid and pushed a ball from just inside the box towards the left side of the goal. San Luis 'keeper Adrian Martinez could not stop the ball from settling into the back of the net.

Marco Antonio Vidal: Played 90 minutes in Indios' 7-1 loss to Atlas. Vidal picked up a yellow card in the 20th minute, when the game was only 2-0. After the game, one of Vidal's teammates said some players on the team weren't pulling their weight but did not mention any names. Vidal's work rate has been a positive, so that comment might have been aimed for other players.

Samuel Ochoa: Played final 16 minutes in Estudiantes' 4-3 loss to Monterrey. Ochoa was a late-game substitute as Estudiantes' manager Miguel Herrera was forced to reach for some offense from the bench. Monterrey overcame a 2-1 deficit to lead 4-2. Although he was not involved on the play, Ochoa was on the field for Estudiantes' last goal.