[AMERICAN ABROAD] Mexico's Torneo Apertura moves into its playoff stage, but none of Americans who have been playing first-team soccer this fall made the postseason. Except for DaMarcus Beasley, whose national team career was rejuvenated with a strong debut at Puebla, and Herculez Gomez, who scored seven goals for Estudiantes Tecos, it has been a generally frustrating season for the gringo contingent.

After scoring goals in his first two games in the top level, Joe Benny Corona was in and out of the lineup at promoted Club Tijuana.

After his return to Club America following stints on loan at three clubs, Edgar Castillo began the season in the starting lineup but later was hurt and didn't play in the second half of the Apertura after a coaching change.

A broken foot sidelined Jose Francisco Torres, limiting him to seven appearances with Pachuca.

But they were lucky compared to fellow national team player Jonathan Bornstein, who didn't play a minute for Tigres, one of the league's top teams.

Mexico's pro clubs have signed dozens of young Americans who have been working themselves up the ladder of their ambitious youth programs, but none debuted in the Mexican league this fall. (Ernest Nungaray, 19, made a brief appearance for Morelia in the Concacaf Champions League.)

Americans in Mexico (2011 Torneo Apertura)

Key: GP=games played; GS=games started; G=goals; YC=yellow cards; RC=red cards.