Liga MX side Club America remains in the fight for the Clausura title this spring, but will need to get past Pachuca in order to keep those hopes alive.
Alex Zendejas and his teammates travel to Pachuca on Wednesday in the first of two showdowns over the next week. The U.S. men’s national team winger has scored five goals and added seven assists in 15 Clausura appearances, remaining one of the more productive attackers in Mexico.
Zendejas has totaled 10 goals and 12 assists in 38 appearances across all competitions, which has led to growing interest in his services elsewhere. Should Zendejas and Club America win the Clausura title, it could be the 27-year-old’s final trophy with the club before potentially moving on this summer.
In France, Lindsey Heaps and Crystal Dunn continue league play.
In Italy, Johnny Cardoso and Real Betis aim to reach the Conference League Final, but first they will need to eliminate Fiorentina.
Here is a closer look at this week’s Americans Abroad:
Europe
UEFA Conference League
Johnny Cardoso and Real Betis visit Fiorentina on Thursday. Real Betis lead 2-1 on aggregate.
France
Division 1 Feminine
Lindsey Heaps and Lyon host Le Havre on Wednesday.
Crystal Dunn, Eva Gaetino, Korbin Albert and PSG host Nantes on Wednesday.
Mexico
Liga MX Playoffs
Alex Zendejas and Club America visit Pachuca on Wednesday.
Looks like Leon lost their appeal with CAS. They’re out of the Club World Cup in June. The tournament rules specifically prohibited two teams with the same ownership participating in the tournament and both Pachuca and Leon were owned by the same group.
Which means Club America and LAFC will have a one-game, winner-take-all playoff to see who else gets into the tournament from CONCACAF. (Personally I wish it was Columbus, I think they could go far in this tournament.) But MLS already has Miami and Seattle in, and could get a third team in the tournament too if LAFC takes care of business. And even though there’s much mumbling and grumbling, this could be a very interesting tournament since the MLS/Liga MX/South American teams are in season and the European, Asian, African, and Liga MX squads won’t be and in fact may not bring their full rosters, at least in the earlier rounds. So we could see some shockers.
Kind of sketchy that it’s LAFC and Club America. Umm let’s go with LA because they were runners up in 2023 and we’ll have them play the runners up in 2024 … oh that’s Columbus, let’s see let’s go with the top ranked team in Concacaf’s Club ranking … oh that’s also Columbus. Maybe 2024 Leagues Cup … oh also Columbus. How about we pick the team that was ranked highest in June of 2024 … thats not Columbus right? Oh Club America was #1 then yes let’s go with them. Club America has won three Liga Mx titles in a row, and Columbus did have a chance to beat Pachuca, on the road at 8,000 ft, after being food poisoned at the hotel, but we did have a chance that we didn’t take. Or maybe they just picked two of the biggest media markets in North America that didn’t already have a team in.
Kid, you’re new around here, right?
Didn’t they wait until Miami had won the Supporter’s Shield before “deciding” that the Supporter’s Shield winner gets in?