TIJUANA Two Xolos players will play on the United States' U-23 team in a friendly match against Mexico's squad Wednesday night in Texas.
The two, who are Mexican-Americans, have been preparing with the rest of the U.S. squad for the games in March to qualify for the Summer Olympics in London.
Regardless of the label "friendly," any time the U.S. team squares off against Mexico's, the match arouses emotions on both sides of the border.
Joe Corona, 21, whose mother is from Mexico, will get the chance to play against the Mexican team led by Luis Fernando Tena, who once had considered him to play for his squad but ultimately rejected him.
"I'm very excited to be playing this game (against Mexico); it's going to be our first big test," Corona told the website ussoccer.com.
The Xolos wing said he wants to show the U.S. coaching staff that he belongs on their roster.
On Saturday, he scored the only goal for the Xolos in the game against Toluca, a match the ended in a 1-1 tie.
For teammate Greg Garza, Wednesday night's game will be special, since it's in his native Texas.
The Xolos defender is a veteran of U.S. teams since he played on the U-17 squad in 2007 and on the U-20 one that played last year.
Garza, 20, also noted the fact that he plays for a professional team in the Mexican league but will be competing against Mexico's team on Wednesday.
"It's a different feeling to be playing against Mexico," he told the website.
The players have contrasting experiences in Mexico's First Division, where the Xolos play.
Corona has gradually earned the confidence of the Xolos' coach, Antonio Mohamed, and has played more than 400 minutes in the division and scored one goal.
Garza, meanwhile, has only played in one game, a total of 18 minutes, since arriving this season.
For its part, Mexico's U-23 team has been training in Mexico City.
Midfielder Marco Fabián said every Mexican player, too, is trying to earn a spot in the team that will compete for a chance to go to the Olympics.
But winning Wednesday's game, friendly or not, is the priority at hand.
editorial@sandiegored.com
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U.S. vs. Mexico
U-23 squads will play at 7 p.m., at FC Dallas Stadium in Frisco, Texas, at 7 p.m.
Game is to be televised by Telefutura.
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