A weekly recap of how Mexican internationals fared over the weekend.
Mexican Nationals Score
Paul Aguilar, Antonio Naelson and Néstor Calderón celebrated their winning performances for the Mexican National Team by scoring in their clubs' wins in the Mexican First Division over the weekend.
Aguilar, who played the full 90 minutes in Mexico's 2-0 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina in Atlanta Wednesday, scored the lone goal of the match for Pachuca in the 69th minute in its 1-0 victory over Puebla on Saturday.
Naelson started Toluca's 5-0 demolition of Querétaro and scored a goal in the 28th minute as the winners connected for four goals in the second half. Calderón, who came on as a substitute against Bosnia, put an exclamation point on the triumph by finding the back of the net in the 89th minute.
After securing the clean sheet on Wednesday, Cruz Azul goalkeeper Jesús Corona could not stop UANL Tigres, which posted a 2-0 home win as Brazilian forward Danilinho scored one goal and set up Héctor Mancilla's goal.
A Mexican Dutch Derby
After starting on the same backline on Wednesday, Francisco Rodríguez and Héctor Moreno wound up in a rare Mexican face-off several thousand miles and an ocean way in the Dutch First Division Saturday. Rodríguez's PSV Eindhoven team prevailed, 4-0, over Moreno's AK Alkmaar's side. Both players played the entire match. PSV (50 points) leads the league while Alkmaar (37) is in sixth place.
A non-Mexican English Derby
In contrast to what transpired in the Netherlands, neither West Bromwich Albion forward Carlos Vela or West Ham United midfielder Pablo Barrera saw any action in their England Premier League encounter. West Ham rallied from a three-goal deficit to tie WBA, 3-1. Vela watched the entire show from the bench, while Barrera did not even dress. Vela is on loan from Arsenal.
We should get a better reading of Vela's future with the club this week as Roy Hodgson takes over as manager from caretaker boss Michael Appleton on Monday.
Javier Hernández
After he was credited with a goal in the Mexican win on Wednesday, Chicharito did not get off the bench in Manchester United's 2-1 derby victory over Manchester City in the English Premier League. England striker Wayne Rooney had seen to that. With the archrivals locked in a 1-1 deadlock, Rooney scored a spectacular bicycle kick in the 78th minute that went viral on the Internet. Had the game remained a tie, Hernández might have been called on to secure the winning goal, but his services weren't needed.
Chicharito was credited with a goal against Bosnia. He drew a penalty kick early in the second half and took the ensuing attempt. His penalty kick was saved by goalkeeper Kenan Hasagic as the ball bounced out. It appeared the ball deflected off Bosnia defender Miralem Pjanic, but Hernández was given credit for the score.
"I didn't know if it was my goal or if it was an own goal," Hernández said told the newspaper the Record. "I celebrated with my teammates and laughed because of the circumstances that arose. Scoring is always beautiful but it's better to win. It does you no good if you score three goals and you don't win."
Rafa Márquez
After seeing the Mexican international play in a pre-season match against Atlante, New York Red Bulls coach Hans Backe has decided that Rafa Márquez will start at central defense this MLS season. Backe said Márquez was "fantastic," versus Atlante, against which the Red Bulls prevailed in a penalty-kick shootout after playing to a scoreless draw in regulation.
"I said to Erik [Soler, Red Bulls general manager and sporting director], 'This is his position, there is no doubt,'" Backe said. "It seemed also he did a lot of work during our vacation because he's very fit. He looks absolutely as a leader in the back four, talking with the guys about the defending shape. He definitely is another player compared to last year."
Carlos Salcido
Carlos Salcido's club team, Fulham, is scheduled to play at Chelsea on Monday afternoon. Salcido, a defender, also played against Bosnia.
Giovani dos Santos came on as a substitute in the 69th minute of Racing de Santander's 3-2 win over Sevilla. The striker did not figure in the scoring. His most memorable attacking contribution came during a counterattack in the 80th minute when he penetrated deep into Sevilla territory but could not connect on a cross in the penalty area.
Jonathan dos Santos
Jonathan dos Santos, a midfielder, did not play for the Barcelona B team in its 3-0 triumph over Cartagena in the Spanish Second Division.
Efraín Juárez
For the second consecutive week, defender Efraín Juárez did not dress for Celtic. The Scottish side recorded a 3-1 victory over Dundee United in the Premier League.
Andrés Guardado
A thigh injury has sidelined midfielder Andrés Guardado from any action for Deportivo La Coruna until the end of this month.
Michael Lewis, who has covered international soccer for three decades, is a regular contributor to Fox News Latino. He can be reached at SoccerWriter516@aol.com.
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