MONTERREY, Mexico – Their paths to the 2021 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League Final may have been completely different, but one thing that bonds GKs Guillermo Ochoa of Club America and Esteban Andrada of Monterrey is the pursuit of Concacaf glory.

Ochoa is no stranger to Concacaf competition, having won four Concacaf Gold Cups with the Mexican National Team, along with Golden Glove honors during the 2019 tournament and Best XI inclusions in the 2009 and 2019 Gold Cups.

Having spent close to a decade of his career in European football, Ochoa may not have that many appearances in Concacaf club competition, but to no one’s surprise he has already tasted success.

As a 20-year-old, the Mexican shot-stopper was part of the Club America side that raised the 2006 Concacaf Champions Cup when they defeated Toluca in the Final to claim their fifth continental title.

Ochoa later departed for Europe before returning to his beloved Club America in 2019, and a year later took part in Las Aguilas’ 2020 SCCL campaign.

With the tournament being completed in December 2020 in Orlando, Florida due to the pandemic, Ochoa was the man in goal in helping Club America complete a semifinal finish.

Club America have been even better in 2021 and a large part of that has been down to Ochoa, who has registered three clean sheets in Club America’s six SCCL matches thus far.

Ever the penalty kick save expert, Ochoa showed his prowess in making a soaring save from Jamiro Monteiro’s spot kick in the second leg of Club America’s semifinal with the Philadelphia Union. The stop prevented the Union from cutting into Club America’s 2-0 aggregate lead and later the Liga MX club would notch another two goals to secure their place in the Final.

Now, 15 years after winning his first Concacaf club trophy, Ochoa will be aiming for a second crown.

It won’t be easy, though, for Club America, considering the man in the opposing net for Monterrey.

Andrada is no stranger to continental tournaments, having appeared in various ones throughout South America with clubs in his native Argentina, but now the 30-year-old is on the hunt for a first Concacaf club trophy.

Andrada has been excellent since joining Rayados over the summer and went right to work in the SCCL, helping Monterrey navigate their way past Cruz Azul in the semifinals with a 5-1 win on aggregate, including a clean sheet in a 1-0 first leg victory.

With four clean sheets this season on the domestic front in Liga MX, Andrada has the ability to shift the momentum of any match with his cat-like reflexes in goal.

Considering the shot-stopping ability of both GKs, a classic Concacaf Final between Club America and Monterrey could well be decided by the two decorated men in net.