Cristian Roldan, Fredy Montero celebrate. (Stephen Brashear-USA TODAY Sports)

As Seattle Sounders FC face Pumas UNAM in Mexico City in the opening leg of the two-match Concacaf Champions League finals on Wednesday, April 27 (10:30 p.m. ET, FS1 / TUDN), an uphill climb could get off to a fast start if they can do something no MLS team has ever done – win the first leg of the two-game CCL final.

Seattle carries a 3-1-1 record against LIGA MX opponents in all competitions across 2021-22, with U.S. men’s national team midfielder Cristian Roldan racking up production against Mexico’s top flight over that span.

The Sounders also have been propelled by 11-year MLS veteran Fredy Montero, who tied the league record with his three quarterfinal goals against Club Leon, improving his tally to match the 10-goal record for the most scores all-time by a single player in the competition.

On several recent occasions, Roldan has had himself a match against LIGA MX, notching a goal against Club Leon and an assist against Tigres UANL in 2021 Leagues Cup matches before adding two helpers – again against Leon – in the 2022 CCL quarterfinals.

Seattle is unbeaten in all CCL outings this year, having tied every road match before earning winning results on each return leg at home. If Sounders FC can channel the dual forces of Roldan and Montero against LIGA MX sides, Wednesday could be their history-making moment.

MLS Results in Concacaf Champions League Finals
Year MLS Club LIGA MX Club Leg 1 Result Leg 2 Result
2011 Real Salt Lake Monterrey 2-2 Tie
(MLS Away)		 1-0 Loss
(MLS Home)
2015 Montréal Impact Club América
1-1 Tie
(MLS Away)
 4-2 Loss
(MLS Home)
2018 Toronto FC Chivas de Guadalajara 2-1 Loss
(MLS Home)		 2-1 Win
(MLS Away)
2020 Los Angeles Football Club Tigres 2-1 Loss
(Neutral Site: Exploria Stadium in Orlando)		 None. Final played as single match.

FrontRowSoccer.com editor Michael Lewis has written a new book, ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. You can learn more about it or purchase it here:

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Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.