Gilberto Mora Out of Mexico's Chile Finale as Ankle Trouble Cuts Camp Short

Mexico will be without its brightest young talent for Tuesday night's friendly against Chile, after Gilberto Mora left the national team camp early and returned to Club Tijuana with a recurring ankle problem. The 17-year-old midfielder played just once in Mexico's extended four-game window, scoring his first-ever international goal in a 1-1 draw with Colombia, before ankle discomfort flared up and forced him out of the 1-1 draw with Peru and Saturday's 3-0 defeat to the United States. Coach Rafa Márquez explained that he had expected the teenager to feature, only for the issue to return in training after his Monday press conference. "He is still experiencing some discomfort... He has been dealing with this discomfort for some time, not just recently, but for weeks prior, even before he joined us with the national team," Márquez said, stressing the priority is protecting a player who has emerged as one of the country's brightest prospects in years. The loss deepens Mexico's selection headache ahead of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum clash. Winger Hirving Lozano is already out with a muscle injury, Mateo Chávez is suspended after his red card against the U.S., and midfielder Luis Romo is a doubt. Márquez remains without a win after three games in charge — draws with Colombia and Peru followed by the heavy loss to Mexico's biggest rivals — and Chile, winless themselves after defeats to Canada and the United States, offer what looks like a winnable finale to a frustrating window. Kickoff is at 10:30 p.m. ET.