As several Earthquakes starters head to their respective national teams for international duty this week, the rest of the club will welcome an international competitor of their own. Led by head coach Diego Alonso, Liga MX legends Pachuca will visit Avaya Stadium for the first time on Saturday as the Earthquakes host their second international friendly of the season. Here are some players to watch in the matchup:
Goalkeeper Andrew Tarbell – San Jose Earthquakes
Fans saw their first glimpse of the Earthquakes rookie goalkeeper Andrew Tarbell in the team’s most recent MLS matchup with Columbus Crew SC. A former Clemson Tiger, Tarbell was the Quakes’ No. 1 pick in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft and eighth overall. In four years at Clemson, Tarbell appeared in 56 games (55 starts), leading the team to 17 wins in his senior season and an appearance in the College Cup Final. Although he has only seen 45 minutes of MLS action, Tarbell has already shown he has a bright future with his first professional save garnering consideration for Save of the Week. With David Bingham out due to injury, Tarbell may get his first starting XI nod as an Earthquake against Pachuca.
Midfielder Tommy Thompson – San Jose Earthquakes
As the Earthquakes’ first-ever homegrown player, Tommy Thompson has quickly become a fan favorite. Splitting time between San Jose and Sacramento Republic FC, Thompson has been on quite a tear the last few weeks with the USL club. In 11 appearances on loan, Thompson has scored three goals and added three assists for Sacramento, earning a spot on the USL’s Team of the Week in late August. With a handful of usual Quakes starters out Saturday due to international duty, there is a good chance Thompson will see substantial playing time, giving him the opportunity to translate his recent success to his Earthquakes career.
Goalkeeper Oscar Perez – C.F. Pachuca
As the oldest player currently in Liga MX, 43-year-old Pachuca goalkeeper Oscar Perez has enjoyed a successful career both in the league and internationally. Starting his career before some of the Earthquakes players were even born, Perez played 20 seasons with Cruz Azul starting in 1993, making more than 400 appearances and even scoring a goal. Since joining Pachuca in 2013, he has added another 119 appearances to his impressive resume. Apart from his accomplishments in Liga MX, Perez also earned 54 caps for the Mexico national team from 1998-2010. He made several FIFA World Cup appearances for the club, playing in four games in both 2002 and 2010.
M Victor Guzman – C.F. Pachuca
At just 21 years old, Pachuca midfielder Victor Guzman has already made a name for himself. Joining the club on loan from Guadalajara in June of 2015, Guzman has racked up 23 appearances and scored two goals, the second proving to be a huge moment in Pachuca’s rich history. Entering as a substitute in the 66th minute against Monterrey in the Clausura 2016 championship match, Guzman would go on to net the clinching goal on an extra time header to help Pachuca lift the trophy for the sixth time. That wasn’t the first championship Guzman has helped a team earn either. Last year he was called up to the Mexico U-20 team for the 2015 CONCACAF U-20 Championship and scored a goal in the tournament, which Mexico went on to win.
