CARSON, Calif. – Erick “Cubo” Torres needs a goal to become Chivas USA’s single-season record holder, and he would like nothing more than to do it Sunday in the final SuperClasico against the LA Galaxy (8 pm ET, Univision Deportes).
Finding the back of the net in the rivalry setting would surely heighten the significance, but Torres also seeks to find his groove with international duty looming following his first call-up to the Mexican national team.
The MLS All-Star has not scored since July 20, a key factor in the current 456-minute scoreless drought for the last-place Goats, so Torres believes a goal Sunday would give him some confidence before leaving the club for Mexico’s upcoming friendlies.
“It would be a great game to again find the net and celebrate a goal,” Torres told reporters this week.
Some components of El Tri are set to come together Sunday night at their camp in Mexico City before traveling to the United States on Monday in preparation for their matches against Chile (Sept. 6) and Bolivia (Sept. 9) at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, and Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colorado, respectively.
The schedule means Torres would miss Chivas USA’s meetings with the Seattle Sounders on Sept. 3 and Columbus Crew on Sept. 7.
“He deserves it,” goalkeeper Dan Kennedy told reporters. “He’s been in an incredible form this season. He really has what you can’t teach – he just has this knack for finding the right spot, and for a guy his age to be where he is at today, he definitely deserves a shot at the national team.”
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Torres, who ranks third on the MLS leaderboard behind Bradley Wright-Phillips and Dom Dwyer, is currently tied with Ante Razov atop the club’s single-season goal list with 14. Cubo is already the league’s all-time scoring leader among Mexican-born players and, at 21 career goals, sits three shy of Justin Braun for second place on Chivas USA’s all-time scoring list.
“For him, getting called up to the national team is very important and a great accomplishment,” head coach Wilmer Cabrera told reporters. “It reflects the work he’s been doing on [this] team. That’s important for the club. His teammates are motivated because he’s our goalscorer, and we try to keep working so he arrives [with Mexico] in the best possible form.”
Said Torres: “I feel prepared to go do things well and learn a lot to be able to start my career with the national team. I want to make sure it’s not just this one appearance, but in a few years, to be able to celebrate 100 caps and play several World Cups for my country.”
