Why did USMNT star Alejandro Zendejas wear a mask in Club América vs Cruz Azul? Will he face Mexico?

The United States Men’s National Team take on Mexico on Wednesday 19 April but will be unable to call upon Club América’s Alejandro Zendejas for the friendly match at State Farm Stadium in Arizona. Las Águilas requested the USMNT not to select the winger for the match in order for him to get some rest after he suffered a fractured nose following a blow to the face in his team’s Liga MX win over Monterrey on 9 April.

Zendejas’ ‘Clásico Joven’ brace despite nose fracture

Despite being in the wars, Zendejas played from the start in América’s 3-1 ‘Clásico Joven’ victory away to Cruz Azul and stayed on the field for 79 minutes. He wore a distinctive protective mask to protect the fracture and it proved to be something of a lucky charm as he found the net twice, levelling the match just before half-time before putting his team ahead seconds into the second period.

CONCACAF Nations League participation at risk

The winger, who played two friendly matches for Mexico, the country of his birth, before switching to the USMNT, is due to undergo surgery at the end of the Clausura 2023 tournament, which could his participation in the CONCACAF Nations League Final Four at risk. América stated that Zendejas would need four to six weeks to recover from the operation, although wearing a mask for an extended period, allowing him to play on, may also be an option.

Zendejas at the double vs Cruz Azul

Zendejas’ first goal for América in their win over Cruz Azul came at the end of a fine team move, the winger producing a pinpoint left-footed finish from the edge of the penalty area which got his team back on level terms after they had fallen behind. He then repeated the trick from slightly closer range just after half-time, coolly slotting the ball into the corner after teammate Henry Martín had won possession inside the opposition half.