WHILE MOST AMERICAN fans were focused on the Gold Cup, former U.S. national team midfielder Jose Torres helped Tigres earn a spot in the Copa Libertadores final. Torres played 90 minutes for Tigres in its semifinal second leg win over Brazil’s Internacional.

Next up will be a matchup in the finals against River Plate. Tigres will host the first leg on July 29 and then head to Buenos Aires for the return leg on August 5.

Very few American players have ever played in a club game of this magnitude, and yet Torres’ last appearance for the U.S. men’s national team came more than two years ago in a 2013 Gold Cup win over Honduras.

Americans Busy in Liga MX

With a new coaching staff at Club Tijuana, there are positive signs that two of the more promising young American talents in Mexico could see significant playing time this season. In the club’s season-opening road loss to Pachuca, Alejandro Guido, 21, started and was replaced by Paul Arriola, 20, in the 62nd minute.  Michael Orozco also earned his first start for Tijuana in the 2-1 loss.

Edgar Castillo went a full 90 in his debut for Monterrey but couldn’t prevent a 3-0 loss to Pumas.

Jose Torres started for Tigres in a 1-0 loss to Toluca—although Tigres’ priorities are with the Copa Libertadores.

Miguel Ibarra made his Liga MX debut for Club Leon, coming on in the 78th minute in Club Leon’s  3-1 win over Santos Laguna.

So which American had the best performance in Liga MX? Jonathan Bornstein, who started and went a full 90 for Queretaro in a 2-0 win over Atlas. The win also meant a loss for Greg Garza who went the distance for Atlas.

2.Bundesliga opening weekend

Bobby Wood, the American hero in recent friendlies against Germany and the Netherlands, started Union Berlin’s season opener on Saturday. Wood played 61 minutes in the 1-1 draw against Fortuna Dusseldorf 1-1.

Wood’s new coach likes what he sees so far:  "He is an outstanding player," Norbert Düwel told the Berliner Kurier. "Fast, ambidextrous, and with a strong shot."

Andrew Wooten scored in Sandhausen’s impressive season-opening win over Eintracht Braunschweig (see above). His nifty goal in the 41st minute gave the visitors a 2-1 lead en route to a 3-1 victory.

Antonee Robinson progressing at Everton

U.S. U-18 left back Antonee Robinson recently signed his first contract with Everton after being named the club’s U-18 academy player of the year. On Sunday he was given a thrill when he made the first-team bench for a preseason friendly against Scotland’s Hearts of Midlothian. Also on the bench for Everton: Tim Howard.

Two Yanks at Reading This Season

Will Danny Williams be Reading’s captain this season? It is too early to say, but he was wearing the armband in Friday’s preseason clash with Swansea, a 1-1 draw.

Potential U.S. U-23 forward Andrija Novakovich has been earning occasional minutes with Reading so far in preseason. Reading did not release the 18-year-old Wisconsin native for the U-20 World Cup because management wanted him rested for preseason with the first team.

Rubin having a strong preseason

Rubio Rubin played well at the U-20 World Cup and his momentum is carrying over to preseason at FC Utrecht. After scoring two goals in a 3-0 friendly win earlier this month against Achilles 29, Rubin continued scored again yesterday against Lienden.

The Oregon native put Utrecht up 2-0 in the 77th minute on an assist from Sofyan Amrabat.  Moments later Rubin was substituted out of the game.

Rubin earned more than 2,000 minutes with Utrecht during his rookie campaign, and will be looking to expand his role with the team. The 19-year-old forward is also a strong candidate to play in the 2016 Olympics in Rio. 

Brian Sciaretta is an American Soccer Now columnist and an ASN 100 panelist. Follow him on Twitter.