Mexicans Abroad: Blanco's Dramatic Goal

During Chicago's playoff series against New England, Mexico and MLS superstar Cuauhtemoc Blanco revealed that he'd opted to leave the American league in favor of second-division side Veracruz.

Blanco seemed to have his country in mind as his return to Mexico was within sights. But Blanco proved that such potential off-the-field distractions are no reason to worry.

Blanco scored perhaps his most important goal since joining Chicago. Against the Revolution, Blanco scored the series-clinching goal and the Fire are now one step away from MLS Cup.

Thus, "Cuau" still has a chance to leave MLS with a trophy in hand.

While the rest of his foreign-based countryment did not have as much drama as Blanco, there were plenty of Mexicans Abroad making noise across the globe.

Spain

Rafael Marquez (Barcelona)- Marquez remained on the bench for Barça’s 0-0 draw in the Champions League against Rubin Kazan. The defender didn’t make it on to the team sheet for the 4-2 win over Mallorca.  

Andres Guardado (Deportivo La Coruña)- Guardado played 85 minutes in the 2-0 win over Getafe and was substituted in the 85th minute.  

Hugo Sanchez (Almeria)- The manager’s Almeria won 2-0 against Osasuna.  

Jonathan Dos Santos (Barca Atletic)- Dos Santos played all 90 minutes in the 2-0 win over RCD Espanyol and saved a ball of the line.

Juan Seguro (Real Union Club de Irun)- Seguro entered in the 56th minute in his club’s 2-1 loss to Elche.  

Germany

Ricardo Osorio (Stuttgart)- Osorio is recovering from injury and did not participate in the 1-1 draw against Sevilla in the Champions League. He missed the 0-0 clash against Mochengladbach.  

Italy

Miguel Layun (Atalanta)- Layun was not called on for Atalanta’s 2-5 loss to Juventus.  

Greece  

Antonio De Nigris (Larissa)- Game on Monday against AEK Athens

Finland

Alberto Ramirez (FC Inter Turku)- The season has concluded in Finland.  

England

Giovani Dos Santos (Tottenham Hotspur)- Dos Santos is recovering from injury and missed Spurs’ 2-0 win against Sunderland.  

Carlos Vela (Arsenal)- Vela missed the 4-1 win in the Champions League against AZ Alkaamar. He again was not present for the 4-1 win over Wolverhampton because of a knee injury.  

Guillermo Franco (West Ham)- Franco gained 89 minute midweek in the 2-1 win over Aston Villa in a Premier League game. The striker then played all 90 minutes in the 1-2 loss against Everton.

Netherlands

Carlos Salcido (PSV)- Salcido  played all 90 minutes in the 1-1 game against Kobenhavn, and again all 90 minutes in the 5-1 win over ADO Den Haag.  

Francisco ‘Maza’ Rodriguez (PSV)- Maza played all 90 minutes as well in the 1-1 Europa League game against Kobnhavn and the full game in the 5-1 win over ADO Den Haag.

Hector Moreno (AZ Alkaamar)- Moreno was on the field all 90 minutes as Arsenal beat the team 4-1 in the Champions League. He also played full time in the 1-1 draw against Feyenoord and received a yellow card.  

Hungary

Juan ‘Kichi’ Perez (FC Tatabanya)- The team did not have any activity this weekend.  

Ukraine

Nery Castillo (Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk)- The game against Kryvbas Kryvyi has been postponed.  

United States

Cuauhtemoc Blanco (Chicago Fire) - Played 90 minutes and scored a goal in a 2-0 win over New England. The goal was the series-clinching goal and moved Chicago to within a game of MLS Cup. Blanco and the Fire will play Real Salt Lake on Saturday in the Eastern Conference Final.

Luis Angel Landin (Houston) - Came on in the 81st minute of Houston's 1-0 nplayoff win against Seattle. Landin played the final nine minutes as well as the entire 30-minute extra-time session. Landin's Houston will play at the Galaxy on Friday in the Western Confernce Final.

Eduardo Lillingston (Chivas USA) - Played the final 14 minutes in Chivas USA's 1-0 loss to the Galaxy in the Western Conference Semifinal. Chivas USA were eliminated from the playoffs.

Mariano Trujillo (Chivas USA) - Dressed but did not play in Chivas USA's 1-0 loss to the Galaxy.

Claudio Suarez (Chivas USA) - Did not dress for Chivas USA's 1-0 loss to the Galaxy.

Ecuador

Carlos Moran (Cuenca)- Carlos Moran wasn’t on the list for the 1-0 win over Espoli.  

Peru

Rodolfo Espinoza (Club Universitario de Deportes)- Espinoza played all 90 minutes in the 2-0 win against Club Sportivo Cienciano.  

Emmanuel Cerda (Club Universitario de Deportes)- Cerda scored the first goal in the 2-0 win over Club Sportivo Cienciano in the 29th minute midweek. He also received a yellow card and was substituted in the 77th minute.  

Nathanial Revetria (Sport Ancash on loan from River, Uruguay)- Revetria was not on the list for the 2-0 win against Alianza Lima or 1-1 draw against Cesar Vallejo.  

Venezuela

Rodrigo Prieto (Caracas FC)- Prieto played all 90 minutes in his team’s 1-0 loss against Deportivo Tachira.  

Colombia

Mario Garcia (Boyaca Chico FC)- Garcia was on the field all 90 minutes as his team lost 4-2 against Deportivo Cali.

Andrea Martinez covers Mexican football for Goal.com.

For more coverage of Mexicans Abroad, visit Goal.com's Mexico section.

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