With only three matches remaining in the regular season, the Seattle Sounders are looking to gain a bit of momentum heading into the 2017 MLS Cup Playoffs — the same formula that saw them lift the 2016 MLS Cup. Seattle has dropped only one of their past 13 games, but they’ve also drawn five over that period.
While the attack has struggled at times, the rock in Seattle’s lineup has been the play of MLS Cup legend Stefan Frei. The Swiss native (who became an American citizen back in June) has now amassed a league-leading 11 shutouts in 2017, and his goals allowed average (1.13 per game) and save percentage (69.1 percent) both rank near the top of the league.
On Wednesday, Frei highlighted his importance to the Sounders with a fantastic save on a Fredy Montero free kick to preserve Seattle’s 1-0 lead in the 37th minute.
The Sounders will likely have to settle for a place in the Western Conference knockout round (seeds 3-6), but no side in the West will be looking forward to a trip to CenturyLink Field to take on Frei, Cristian Roldan, Nicolas Lodeiro and Clint Dempsey.