Mexico

Mexicans Abroad: Rafa's Golazo

Aside from the seven players reporting to El Tri and Rafa Márquez’s free-kick in the Copa del Rey, there was little to report for Mexicans in the top European leagues this week.

Feb 9, 2009 2:52:48 AM

More On : Mexico, Mexico Women

By César García

This week, the main Mexican legionarios made their way to Ohio for the first match of the Hexagonal against the United States on Wednesday, the 11th of February.

There was no problem for the early arrival of often used strikers Giovani Dos Santos and Omar Bravo to El Tri’s training camp. Tottenham’s Dos Santos was the first to to México City on Wednesday, while Depor’s Bravo arrived on Friday. Nery Castillo’s anticipated early arrival to Columbus was pushed back to Saturday after a missed flight. Stuttgart’s Ricardo Osorio and Rafael Márquez touched ground in Ohio on Sunday, while PSV’s Carlos Salcido and Villareal’s Guillermo Franco are expected to report to full team training this Monday.

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In Spain, Rafael Márquez’s free-kick golazo midweek gave Barcelona a 2-0 victory over Real Mallorca in the first leg of the semifinals in the Copa del Rey. Almería suffered a second consecutive defeat after they threw away a two-goal lead as coach Hugo Sánchez blamed no-one else but themselves for the debacle. Also, in just five minutes of play, midfielder Juan Seguro netted in two goals for Real Unión in their 3-0 victory over CD Lugo to further consolidate the surprising Basque side atop Group 1 of the Segunda Division “B.”

In England, Arsenal’s Carlos Vela was left off the squad list to face Tottenham in the London derby due to a tactical decision. Also, there are reports that former Atlético and Osasuna coach Javier Aguirre is being considered for the managerial post at Newcastle United, should poor health continue to affect current Magpies manager Joe Kinnear’s attempt to return to work. “El Vasco” has previously mentioned that it is his dream to manage in the Premier League.

Elsewhere in Europe, Ricardo Osorio of Stuttgart and Carlos Salcido of PSV continue in rampant form for their respective clubs in 2009. Both defenders have notched full participation for their sides important victories in recent weeks, but most importantly are demonstrating a return to good form ahead of the start of the Hexagonal. In turn, defender Francisco “Maza” Rodríguez has yet to step on the pitch this year spending most of the matches on the bench.

Closer to home, Rodrigo Prieto of Caracas FC continues as the top goalscoarer in Venezuela’s top flight with four goals in five matches. Rodolfo Espinoza had an excellent debut in Peru with Universitario, scoring and providing an assist in a 2-1 friendly victory. Also, 23-year-old Juan “Kichi” Pérez is on-trial with New York Red Bulls of the MLS for the upcoming 2009 campaign. According to a goal.com report, the diminutive midfielder may have benefited from a connection between a Hungarian second division club and the MLS, to land a trial with the Red Bulls. Pérez previously played for small Hungarian club FC Tatabánya and spent last season with Dorados de Sinaloa of Mexico’s Primera División “A.”

SPAIN
LIGA BBVA - PRIMERA DIVISION - Week 22
Coach Hugo Sánchez, UD Almería
2/8: UD Almería 2-3 Málaga

Rafael Márquez, Barcelona
2/5: Copa del Rey: Barcelona 2-0 Real Mallorca (90 minutes, 1 goal)
2/8: Barcelona 3-1 Sporting Gijon (No Activity - Suspended)
Due to Márquez's suspension for the weekend fixture, Barcelona granted the FMF’s petition to allow the Mexican captain to travel a couple days early to Columbus, Ohio.

Andrés Guardado, Deportivo La Coruña
2/8: Deportivo 1-1 Mallorca (No Activity - Injured)
Guardado requested permission to travel with Omar Bravo to México and continue his injury rehabilitation with his family by his side. The starlet is expected to make a return to Galicia the following Wednesday, February 11th.

Omar Bravo, Deportivo La Coruña
2/8: Deportivo 1-1 Mallorca (No Activity - International Duty)
Bravo was granted permission by Depor boss Miguel Ángel Lotina to depart for El Tri’s training camp a few days early for the important qualification match.

Guillermo Franco, Villareal
2/8: Villareal 2-1 Numancia (Not Considered Due To Injury)
Franco was unable to recover from a knock he sustained when he collided with Depor goalkeeper Daniel Aranzubía last weekend. The striker has stated that he is not 100% fit, but is expected to join the México national team this Monday at Columbus.

Jonathan Dos Santos, Barcelona (División de Honor Juvenil)
2/8: Week 22: Barcelona Juvenil ‘A’ 1-0 La Salle

SUPERLIGA FEMENIL
Maribel Domínguez, Euromat Unió Esportiva L'Estartit
2/8: Week 19: L’Estartit 4-1 Extremadura

SEGUNDA DIVISION “B” - Week 24
Juan Seguro, Real Unión
2/8: Real Unión 3-0 CD Lugo (5 minutes, 2 goals)

Javier Iturriaga, SD Lemona (on loan from UD Salamanca)
2/8: SD Lemona 0-1 Bilbao Athletic (70 minutes)

ENGLAND
PREMIER LEAGUE - Week 25
Carlos Vela, Arsenal
2/8: Arsenal 0-0 Tottenham (Not Considered For Match)
It was reported that Vela was left off the squad list at the minutes before the match due to a tactical decision. The 19-year-old was originally included in the list a day before the match, but had to settle with observing the scoreless draw from the stands.

Giovani Dos Santos, Tottenham Hotspurs
2/8: Tottenham 0-0 Arsenal (No Activity - International Duty)

GERMANY
BUNDESLIGA - Week 19
Ricardo Osorio, VfB Stuttgart
2/7: Stuttgart 4-2 Bayer Leverkeusen (90 minutes, 1 yellow card)

NETHERLANDS
EREDIVISIE - Weeks 21 & 22
Carlos Salcido, PSV Eindhoven
2/5: PSV 6-0 ADO Den Haag (90 minutes)
2/8: PSV 5-3 FC Volendam (90 minutes)

Francisco Rodríguez, PSV Eindhoven
2/5: PSV 6-0 ADO Den Haag (Substitute, Not Used)
2/8: PSV 5-3 FC Volendam (Substitute, Not Used)

Héctor Moreno, AZ Alkmaar
2/4: AZ 1-0 Roda JC Kerkrade (No Activity - Injured)
2/7: AZ 3-1 Willem II Tilburg (No Activity - Injured)
Moreno has indicated that he expects to return to the pitch in around five weeks.

TURKEY
Süper Lig - Week 19
Antonio De Nigris, Ankaragucu
2/6: Ankaragucu 1-2 Trabzonspor (90 minutes)

UKRAINE
Nery Castillo, Shakhtar Donetsk
Earlier in the week, Nery Castillo took part in a Shakhtar.com chat-room interview. In a poll conducted by the website, Shakhtar fans voted to chat with Castillo to get to know him better in his second term on the mining squad. The full interview can be read on the clubs website.

HUNGARY
NB II (Nemzeti Bajnokság II)
Jesus Flores, FC Tatabánya
2/7: Friendly: FC Tatabánya 1-0 MTK U19

AMERICAS

COLOMBIA
COPA MUSTANG 1 - Week 1
Mario García, Boyacá Chicó FC
2/7: Boyacá Chicó 1-0 Atlético Huila (Not Considered For Match)
Boyacá kicks-off their participation in the Copa Libertadores on the 10th of February, against Aurora of Bolivia.

EL SALVADOR

Coach Carlos de los Cobos, El Salvador
2/6: Int’l Friendly: El Salvador 1-0 Peru
El Salvador finished in fourth place in the UNCAF tournament and have qualified for the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup. Up next for El Salvador is their first match of the Hexagonal against Trinidad and Tobago on the 11th of February.

Torneo Clausura 2009 - Week 2
Arturo Albarrán, CD Águila
2/7: CD Águila 1-0 Alianza FC (90 minutes)

José Luis Osorio, Club Deportivo Chalatenango
2/8: Chalatenango 2-3 Nejapa (68 minutes)

Manuel Luna García, Club Deportivo Chalatenango
2/8: Chalatenango 2-3 Nejapa (90 minutes, 1 goal)

PERU
Primera Profesional de Perú
Rodolfo Espinoza, Universitario de Deportes
2/4: Friendly: Universitario 2-1 Juan Aurich (70 minutes, 1 goal, 1 assist)
2/7: Friendly: Universitario 0-1 Deportivo Saprissa (90 minutes)
Espinoza had an excellent start to his Peruvian adventure scoring and contributing with an assist in his debut match. In an interview on the clubs website, the 27-year-old indicates that he is enjoying life and football in Peru, and he hopes that at the end of the year "U" can celebrate with a championship. Universitario kicks-off their participation in the Libertadores on the 11th of February, against Libertad de Paraguay.

VENEZUELA
Primera División - Weeks 4 & 5
Rodrigo Prieto, Caracas FC
2/4: Caracas FC 2-0 Llanero (81 minutes)
2/8: Caracas FC 0-0 AC Mineros (90 minutes)

Gerardo Torres, Caracas FC
2/4: Caracas FC 2-0 Llanero (Substitute, Not Used)
2/8: Caracas FC 0-0 AC Mineros (63 minutes)

Junior Madrigal, Carabobo FC
2/8: Carabobo FC 1-1 Atlético Vigía (90 minutes)

--César García's "Mexicans Abroad" report appears every Monday on Goal.com. Contact him with any questions or comments at: cesar.garcia@goal.com.

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