AP We jump from a youthful forward to one of the elder statesman in the United States national team’s striker pool. Herculez Gomez lines up Thursday night (10 p.m. Eastern) as Santos Laguna attempts win the 2012 Clausura. The Mexican power plays Monterrey in a two-leg final, with the second match coming on Sunday.
Despite making four of the past five Mexican league finals, Santos has won nada since 2008. They also lost the CONCACAF Champions League final to Monterrey last month. But this year might be different. They advanced to the final in ridiculous fashion – think Man City but better — and seem primed to defeat their rivals.
Gomez may earn his first Clausura playoff start as he continues to recover from a groin injury. It would be a welcome return for the forward who was red-hot before he went down. Santos needs his nose for the goal…
… even if Jurgen Klinsmann doesn’t. Gomez hasn’t gotten a call since August 2010 and seems resigned to his fate as an ex-USMNT player, even if the rest of us are struggling to comprehend and continue to wonder if he’s going to appear in the Stars and Stripes. Put it this way: If the American coach doesn’t call him in the next round of players, we can end all the discussion for good.
It’s a tough reality, but Gomez is handling it with class. Nice note: Brian Straus reported that Sacha Klejstan, another player being overlooked by Klinsmann, reached out to Gomez for advice on dealing with perceived or real snubs. There would be some nice symmetry if Gomez also contributed mightily to a league championship. Football can be such a cruel mistress.
If you want to watch, Telefutura is your option for both games.
But for now: Goalmachine Gomez, courtesy of Jimmy Conrad and the KickTV crew.
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- drchale - May 17, 2012 at 4:44 PM
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It still blows my mind. We’re chasing after youngsters in Germany who might/might not want to suit up for the USMNT yet we’re ignoring (IMO) one of the top three American forwards abroad (Dempsey/Altidore the other two).
Makes no sense to me at all.
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- sluggo271 - May 17, 2012 at 5:35 PM
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I agree. Gomez is proven also. I don’t understand it and I feel if he gets snubbed one more time. I will not care one iota what happens to our team. If the coach can’t see what the rest of us clearly do see in Gomez, then I give up!
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- tylerbetts - May 17, 2012 at 7:55 PM
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While I agree Gomez should be called in – for a Striker pool perceived as weak as the USMNT’s, any striker showing hte form Gomez had pre-injury should be automatic – I don’t think it’s fair to say no call in this time “ends all discussion for good”. The injury can be a factor. If Gomez can’t play at his top for the USMNT here, why not see what you have in someone else? I don’t want to be caught looking past a minnow, but that’s very possible, especially if you lined up two players (Gomez, Deuce) who missed club time due to injuries that aren’t fully healed yet.
