[AMERICANS ABROAD] Tijuana left back Edgar Castillo, who played key roles in the Xolos' opening two wins in the Libertadores Cup, will be sidelined for about a month after suffering a facial fracture in three places during Saturday's Liga MX game against Atlas. The injury will rule Castillo, who remained in the game against Atlas, out of the two World Cup 2014 qualifiers in March against Costa Rica and Mexico and further deplete the U.S. backline.

Castillo and fellow American Joe Corona both scored as Mexican champion Tijuana won its first home game ever in the Libertadores Cup with a 4-0 win over Bolivia's San Jose. Castillo's cross had set up the winning goal in the opening win at Millonarios.

One possible Xolo replacement for Castillo at left back is another American, Greg Garza.

Of the six foreign-based defenders who traveled to Honduras for the Hexagonal opener, only Castillo and Fabian Johnson (Hoffenheim), the starting left back in front of him on the U.S. depth chart played this past weekend.

Carlos Bocanegra (Racing Santander), has not played since returned to Spain, while Geoff Cameron (Stoke City), Timmy Chandler (Nuremberg) and Michael Parkhurst (Augsburg) did not dress. (Chandler was suspended for yellow-card accumulation and would have otherwise started against Freiburg.)

Steve Cherundolo, the first choice at right back for the USA, has been sidelined following knee surgery.