"El Homie" and the Xolos: Edgar Castillo @ Tijuana [R]

Edgar Castillo reportedly fractured his face in 3 places against Atlas, and will require surgery. The incident happened in the 18th minute, and he did finish the game.

https://www.facebook.com/XOLOS.Fans/posts/496118993786368

 

Man, that really sucks for Edgar - and los Xolos... and the USNT.

Here's hoping for a quick recovery.

 

An update

http://www.yanks-abroad.com/content.php?mode=show&id=9979

 

Sucks for Edgar and hopefully he has a speedy recovery. He was playing really well in Copa Lib. This might open up some PT chances for another American who can play LB in Greg Garza.

As for the USMNT, he wasn't seeing the pitch much anyway so I wonder if JK will call in another fullback or opt for a midfield or attacking player instead.

 

Can't we get a break. We keep on losing guy at critical times. Packwood, Pelosi, and Cuevas during the Final. Now we lose this guy at a time where we could have used him at Azteca.

 

American Exports: Tijuana's Edgar Castillo could be fit for World Cup qualifiers after all

"Teammates held up a banner reading, “Edgar, we are with you,” before Wednesday’s Copa Libertadores game against Corinthians, which Xolos won 1-0."
http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/artic...-castillo-could-be-fit-world-cup-qualifiers-a

Another good pic:

http://luizcore.wordpress.com/2013/...-de-tijuana-vs-san-jose-en-vivo-y-en-directo/

 

"....Edgar Castillo is arguably now surpassing the kind of form that saw him breakout as a teenager at Santos Laguna, but is recovering from a facial injury and is in a fitness race to make the qualifiers...."
http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/artic...iga-mx-yanks-has-shot-making-us-national-team

 

Castillo looked pretty good at training last night

 

Yeah that is better than I expected. Maybe a little light swelling, but no Phantom of the Opera mask or anything.

 

So why wasn't Castillo called up if he's healthy? Jogging and playing are two very different things.

 

He's clearly not healthy. He did not line up for Tijuana's last game, and correspondingly didn't make the squad for the US.

It's really disappointing because he was in very good form.

 

Club Tijuana left back Edgar Castillo was a welcome sight in the team's Friday training session, 20 days after suffering various facial fractures in a Liga MX game against Atlas.
The 26-year-old Xolos player didn’t complete the full session, but received a special mask on Saturday that will allow him to fully participate in training and games moving forward.
“I’m a little sad because I haven’t been able to play,” Castillo told the club’s website. “I hope to return next week against Toluca.”

With the left back spot for the US national team an ongoing headache for coach Jurgen Klinsmann and predecessor Bob Bradley, Castillo also revealed that there was contact with U.S. Soccer for him to join up with the squad, but that he didn’t quite recover in time.
“They spoke to the club, Martin Vasquez called and asked if I could go, but they didn’t let me,” Castillo told La Afición.
http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/artic...-jose-francisco-torres-near-return-full-fitne


A special mask for El Homie? This could be good...

 

Edgar assisted on Tijuana's 2nd goal in their 4-0 battering of Guadalajara.

 

His assist is really nice and @1:00 in the video.

 

Wow, he just picked up his head, saw some daylight and split the defenders.

 

Castillo and FJ should tandem on the left side. There is enough pace for both to get forward and defend. I would overload the left with FJ, Castillo, Dempsey, and slide Donovan(RM) over for the cut back while Jozy goes far post and pulls defenders. Castillo in my mind is the USMNT version of Reus. If only we could use him properly.

 

Im starting to agree with this as well. Would be nice to have that speed and skill, and am ok with the defenisve sacrifices. Hopefully JK is subscribed to this thread.

 

key word of your post and also the appropriate forum for that discussion, not here.

 

Coming off a shutout in the scoreless home leg, Castillo went the full 90 as Tijuana beat former champs Palmeiras in Sao Paolo, w/Herr Goppingen in attendance, to advance to the quarterfinals of the Copa Libertadores & a match-up w/Club Atletico Mineiro (featuring Ronaldinho):

 

"The left back’s best moment came in the 81st minute when he stole the ball in defense, charged forward and played a defense-splitting pass from which Riascos should’ve wrapped up the game. There were a couple of nervous moments defensively for Castillo, but he continued to provide an outlet for his team with his pace when Palmeiras were piling on the pressure."

http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/artic...ar-castillo-tijuana-make-history-reach-libert

 

Really looking forward to seeing him get another chance. He was probably too raw the first go around...he and FJ will hopefully hook up well.

 

I hope he has a good game today for Tijuana facing the great Dinho.

 

I'm excited to watch the game tonight. Not many Americans watch Copa Lib. but it is just as exciting as UCL imo.

 

Club Tijuana 2, Atletico Mineiro 2 | Copa Libertadores Match Recap


http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/artic...etico-mineiro-2-copa-libertadores-match-recap

Yeah, that about sums it up.