Members of Chivas de Guadalajara's U-20 squad participate in passing drills on Friday evening at TJC's Pat Hartley Soccer Complex in preparation for Saturday's exhibition match against Tigres UANL's U-20 side at Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium. (Victor Texcucano | Tyler Morning Telegraph)

Jose Antonio Rodriguez possesses a piece of hardware that every athlete wishes he or she had.

The Chivas de Guadalajara Sub 20 goalkeeper received a gold medal last summer as part of the Mexican Olympic soccer team.

Rodriguez is one of many young stars who will be on display this evening when Chivas faces off in an exhibition against the Tigres de Monterrey (UANL) in the third annual Futbol de las Rosas on Earl Campbell Field at Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium.

Gates will open at 4:30 p.m. with the match scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m.

Chivas arrived in the Rose City on Friday and held a training session at Tyler Junior College’s Pat Hartley complex.

Javier Ledesma, the director/coach of the team, said Chivas is excited to be making its first trip to East Texas.

“I think there is a lot of talent, a lot of good players (in this region) — boys and girls,” Ledesma said. “And I think the young people here (are really taking to the sport of soccer).”

The first two Futbol de las Rosas events featured the professional Sub 20 team from the Monterrey Rayados going against an East Texas all-star team. It proved to be a mismatch in the inaugural event with the Rayados winning 8-0. Last year, the all-stars fared better, but still lost to the Rayados.

Price Arredondo, president of the Tyler Hispanic Business Alliance, said a decision was made to try and bring another professional team from the Mexican Premier League to play Monterrey. Tigres de Monterrey accepted the invite, but Arredondo said the Rayados were not keen on playing their in-city rivals.

Arredondo began a search for an opponent for Tigres and said Chivas jumped at the opportunity.

“Certainly the Rayados in the past have been accommodating, but this gives (fans in East Texas) the opportunity to experience some new teams,” Arredondo said. “It just so happened that the two teams (who accepted the invite) played for the Sub 20 championship in May. So that will make it even more interesting.”

Chivas defeated Tigres UANL 4-2 on aggregate in the Sub 20 championship. Chivas won the first leg 3-0 before being stopped 2-1 in the second leg.

Today’s game is the second of three exhibitions Chivas will be involved in with Tigres. The first was on Thursday in Waco with Tigres UANL getting the better of Chivas, 3-1.

Ledesma was putting his players through a quick workout Friday in the 100-degree Texas heat in preparation for today’s rematch.

“It is preseason for us, but we want to show (improvement) and keep getting better and better,” Ledesma said. “It is good preparation for us (against Tigres UANL). I think when we play this kind of competition in (the preseason), it is better for us.”

Longview’s Jose Francisco Torres, who has played for the U.S. national team, is currently a member of Tigres UANL, along with fellow American Jonathan Bornstein.

“There is a connection there (for locals),” Arredondo said about Torres. “I am sure that he’s excited about (his team coming to East Texas). With Tigres, they were excited and delighted to be a part of this.

“Chivas is one of the top two or three teams in terms of name in Mexico and in the U.S.”

Arredondo added that two members of Tigres — Uvaldo Luna and Jorge Espericueta — are members of the Mexican U-20 team, with Espericueta recently winning a U-17 championship with Mexico.

Notes: Gates open at 4:30 p.m. … Tickets are $10; children under 12 get in free. … There will be pregame activities including food samples, games and a chance for one fan to win $25,000 in a kicking contest at halftime, sponsored by Kraft. … The Chivas Sub 20 team continues its Texas tour with stops in Lufkin on July 1 against Lufkin Selection; July 4 in Laredo against Monterrey; and July 6 in Laredo against Tigres UANL.