A weekly recap of how Mexican internationals fared over the weekend.
Jonathan dos Santos
Dos Santos almost did not get an opportunity to play goal-scoring hero for Barcelona B because its Spanish Second Division match was almost suspended due to heavy rain on Sunday.
The midfielder then went out and fired two goals home – one in each half – to lift Barca B to a rousing 4-0 victory over Nastic.
The Mexican international gave Barcelona all the scoring it needed for a 1-0 lead in the 16th minute, scoring on the first serious chance of the match past goalkeeper Rubén Pérez. He increased Barca's cushion to 3-0 in the 48th minute as he connected from just outside the penalty area.
Jonathan Soriano chipped in two goals (33rd and 57th minutes).
Barca B has scored 18 goals in its past four matches.
Francisco Fonseca
Fonseca, a former Mexican international striker, broke a personal 11-month goal-scoring drought by recording a brace in Atlante's 4-0 win over Pachuca in Mexico’s Clausura championship Saturday, spoiling Efraín Flores' debut as coach.
Javier Hernández
Chicharito did not score for United in its 2-0 win over Arsenal in the quarterfinals of the English F.A. Cup on Saturday, but he helped to set up the first goal.
After taking a right-wining cross from Wayne Rooney, Hernández attempted a spectacular head shot from close range in the 28th minute, but Almunia managed to palm away the attempt.
Brazilian Fabio, however, rammed the rebound home for a 1-0 lead. Hernández's presence certainly helped United's second goal in the 48th minute. Arsenal's Johan Djourou beat Chicharito to a low ball and hit it upwards to Rooney, who nodded it home.
Hernández admitted he has played more for United than he had expected.
"I was expecting to be on the bench and playing for the reserves more, so I’m delighted to have played so many games," he told the United Review. "I’m really enjoying myself and hope to play a further part in the team winning trophies this season."
Francisco Javier Rodríguez
The central defender set up a goal by Jeremain Lens that gave PSV Eindhoven a 2-1 lead at Nijmegen in the 64th minute. However, PSV could not hold on and settled for a 2-2 draw in the Dutch First Division Sunday.
Hector Moreno
The defender received his seventh yellow card of the season in Alkmaar Zaamstreek's 2-1 road win at JC Roda in the Dutch First Division on Saturday. That yellow card turned out to be quite costly because he will miss next week's game against Vitesse.
Rafa Márquez
Talk about some drama against your former team. New York Red Bulls central defender Rafa Marquez, who began his professional career with Club Atlas de Guadalajara, connected on a penalty kick in the 90th minute to salvage a 1-1 friendly draw with the Mexican club at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. Tuesday night. Midfielder Joel Lindpere was taken down on the left side of the penalty area to set up the spot kick. Márquez fired his shot into the right corner, sending goalkeeper José Canales the wrong way.
Francisco Mendoza, Sergio Arias
Chivas USA went back to its roots as it added two Mexican players. The Major League Soccer club signed midfielder Francisco "Panchito" Mendoza, the Mexican player with the most all-time MLS appearances with Chivas, as well as goalkeeper Sergio Arias, a star of Mexico’s Under-17 World Cup winning team in 2005, on loan from Chivas de Guadalajara. Mendoza, who played for Chivas from 2005-2009, recorded five goals and 16 assists in 111 regular-season games, the most appearances for a Mexican-born player in league history.
“Panchito and Sergio are important additions for this season, and we’re excited to officially welcome them to the team,” coach Robin Fraser said in a statement. “Both of them have been with us since the start of preseason, so they’re already comfortable with the group. Panchito is an important player in this organization’s history and knows the club very well. Sergio is a talented young goalkeeper with a great deal of potential.”
Efraín Juárez
Juárez and his Celtic teammates never got an opportunity to play their Scottish Cup quarterfinal against Inverness Caley Thistle on Sunday because the game was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch. The encounter was rescheduled for Wednesday night.
Dos Santos was called up by the Mexican National Team for its two international friendlies – against Paraguay in Oakland on March 26 and vs. Venezuela in San Diego on March 29, the Spanish La Liga club said. Dos Santos came on at halftime for Ariel Nahuelpan in Racing Santander's 3-1 loss to Osasuna Sunday.
Andrés Guardado
After playing three games in the past week, the midfielder was given a rest by coach Miguel Angel Lotina as Deportivo Coruna dropped a 2-0 decision to Español in Spain's La Liga on Sunday.
Carlos Salcido
The defender and Fulham had a rare weekend off in the English Premier League. Fulham plays at Everton on Saturday.
Carlos Vela
The forward and his West Bromwich Albion teammates also had the week off as well. WBA will host Arsenal on Saturday.
Pablo Barrera
Barrera did not dress for West Ham United's 2-1 defeat to Stoke City in the English F.A. Cup quarterfinal on Sunday.
Michael Lewis, who has covered international soccer for three decades, is a frequent contributor to Fox News Latino. He can be reached at SoccerWriter516@aol.com.
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