There’s a word in Spanish that Paul Arriola uses to describe the key difference between MLS and Liga MX teams: colmillo.
Literally, it means “fang” or “tooth.” But in this context it’s meant as a way to describe Liga MX teams’ mastery of soccer’s “dark arts.” That could be something as simple as taking a little extra time after a tackle to slow down the restart, or maybe something a bit more outlandish like a goalkeeper performing a literal magic trick ahead of a penalty kick — something Tigres UANL’s Nahuel Guzmán has actually done — in an attempt to distract the shooter.
After spending four seasons in Liga MX, Arriola has seen it all and has some particular insight into the Mexican players’ mindset when facing MLS opponents. That should be useful when the Seattle Sounders play the first leg of their Concacaf Champions Cup quarterfinal at Tigres UANL tonight.
“It’s about the experience and understanding and the savviness,” Arriola said. “At times, I think MLS teams are a little bit too naive. They think that we can go down there and implement the exact same type of style that we continually play week in and week out in the United States, and the reality is it’s different.”
Of course, the Sounders aren’t the average MLS team when it comes to playing in Mexico. Although Arriola is the only current Sounder to have actually played at Estadio Universitario, tonight’s lineup is likely to feature at least seven starters who contributed to the team’s 2022 Concacaf title run. There will be as many as five other players who have played in Mexico at least once before.
Over the years, the Sounders are one of the few MLS teams who have a winning record against Liga MX, going 13-12-5 across all competitions. That includes a 2-0-1 record against Liga MX teams in last year’s Leagues Cup, albeit all at home.
“This club has done it,” Sounders attacker Jesús Ferreira said. “To be part of this team comes with a lot. We know we need a lot of heart, a lot of chemistry, a lot of comittment. I think this team has it. I know the guys are looking forward to it. We’re excited.”
Perhaps the best example of the Sounders’ showing colmillo came in the first leg of the 2022 Concacaf final against UNAM Pumas. Deep into stoppage time and the Sounders trailing the hosts 2-1, Cristian Roldan was taken down in the box. Rather than getting up right away, Roldan stayed down, both bringing attention to the contact and providing time for a review to be initiated.
Sure enough, the VAR official flagged the play, a penalty was awarded and Nicolás Lodeiro converted to send the game back to Seattle tied 2-2. The Sounders would then claim the championship with a 3-0 win at home.
Tonight’s game will likely present a different kind of challenge. As amped up as the crowd was in Mexico City, few stadiums in the entire Western Hemisphere can match the atmosphere at what is affectionately known as El Volcán.
Lacking the amenities of crosstown rival Monterrey’s Estadio BBVA, El Volcán is a 42,000-seat cauldron of noise. Almost no matter the opponent, the stadium is rocking with enthusiastic supporters that can practically will their team to victory, which FC Cincinnati found out the hard way when they surrendered what started out as a 3-0 lead only to fall 5-4 on aggregate in the previous round of CCC.
That’s been a bit of a theme when Tigres host non-Mexican sides in Concacaf, where they’ve amassed a home record of 25-0-6, including a 9-0-2 record against MLS teams.
But few MLS teams have the experience and ability that the Sounders bring into a game like this.
“The first game is really going dictate what the rest of the series looks like,” Arriola said. “We’ll really have to put our best foot forward against a very attacking, strong Mexican side. But, you know, if there’s a group that can do it, it’s us.
“I’m hoping that we go down there and use a little bit of colmillo to be able to figure out the first leg and bring it back and secure another round.”
