Seattle Sounders cruised to a 2-0 conquer FC Dallas in recreation one in every of their best-of-three collection in MLS Cup playoffs at Lumen Subject, thanks partly to a number of key saves from goalkeeper Stefan Frei.
Albert Rusnak and Jordan Morris have been on the scoresheet for Seattle to propel them to victory, however Frei comes out of the sport maybe as an unsung hero for Schmetzer’s aspect.
The 37-year-old veteran shot-stepper made 4 saves on the evening whereas going through an xG of 1.13, an indication of a nonetheless top-level goalkeeper that one way or the other wasn’t title a finalist within the year-end awards regardless of holding 14 clear sheets (most in MLS).
“You gotta have gamers who make performs. We very simply might have been down one- or two-nothing…I simply can’t consider why he’s not within the finalist group for Goalkeeper of the 12 months, I simply don’t get it. I don’t know,” stated head coach Brian Schmetzer after the win.
Frei and his backline saved issues in verify over the course of the common season, conceding simply 32 targets — tied for joint-best within the league with Nashville SC. Frei’s already a membership legend for the Sounders, however he added to his story by making his 350th look for the membership within the win — probably the most in crew historical past.
“There’s been so many saves in important moments of video games the place Stef has executed what goalkeepers are alleged to do, which is preserve the ball out of the again of the online. Within the greatest moments, he retains the ball [out of the net], he retains our crew in video games,” Schmetzer stated.
Ought to Seattle make a deep run within the postseason, Frei can have performed an enormous half in addition to the likes of Morris and Joao Paulo.
The Sounders have the possibility to successfully sweep Dallas in recreation two on November 4, with the Toros preventing for his or her playoff lives down 1-0 within the collection.
