Frei, Sounds seek another MLS title
TUKWILA, Wash. —
would like to make one thing perfectly clear before the Seattle Sounders set foot again in Toronto. He would prefer it if someone else on the Sounders roster becomes the MVP of the MLS Cup final this time.
“I would really prefer it if one of our strikers became MVP this year,” Seattle’s starting goalkeeper said with a chuckle.
Frei will return to the scene of his greatest professional moment Saturday when the Sounders face Toronto in the championship match trying to become the fourth team in MLS history to win consecutive league titles.
A year ago, Frei made one of the most stunning saves in the history of MLS championship matches, changing directions and leaping in desperation to get his left hand on
attempted header in extra time that seemed destined for the top corner of the goal. It was the save Seattle needed to get to penalty kicks, where Frei made another save on
and eventually won the title for the Sounders with his made penalty in the sixth round.
But it's the save on Altidore that everyone remembers and is certain to be shown repeatedly prior to Saturday's rematch.
“I'm going to try and do the same thing as last year and at some point really zone out you guys and social media and just focus on the game,” Frei said.
While last year’s game will get a lot of the attention this week, it's the defensive performance in this year's playoff run that deserves the focus. Seattle has yet to allow a goal in four postseason games. The Sounders haven’t allowed a goal since a 2-0 loss to Philadelphia on Oct. 1. That’s a span of six full games since a shot got past Frei or backup
Miller started the first leg of the West finals against Houston while Frei was slowed by a leg injury.
In the postseason, the Sounders have not allowed a goal since the first leg of the 2016 West finals, the longest postseason shutout streak in MLS history.
“It builds confidence throughout the squad when you have someone like Stef in goal,” Seattle forward
said. “He’s going to make a big save when needed.”
For Frei, the final in Toronto will be the conclusion of nearly two non-stop seasons of soccer. It started in February 2016 when Seattle opened its training camp. Between the length of last year's MLS season and being called into the U.S. national team training camp last January, Frei only had a few weeks of rest in between last year's championship match and the start of preparations for this season.
But this has arguably been his finest season in MLS. Frei led the league with 13 shutouts in the regular season. In a sign of how much Seattle has improved defensively, he was forced to save just 84 shots in the regular season, the fewest of his four seasons with Seattle.
Frei made it a point to appreciate the atmosphere and celebration after Seattle beat Houston to clinch the Western Conference title last week. A year ago, all Seattle celebrations came away from home. When the final whistle blew last Thursday, Frei climbed on the crossbar of his goal in front of Seattle's most rabid supporters and pumped his fists in celebration. While the championship match will again be in Toronto, at least part of this run was shared with the fans at home.
“It was awesome. I wish I could have given everybody in the stadium a hug,” Frei said. “We were so fortunate to get on that run last year and capture two trophies, but unfortunately both of them were away from home. So this last weekend when we had a chance to win one at home was amazing.” Even when Portland’s
is recognized for his own play, he somehow finds a way to turn the focus back on the team. That’s no different now that he’s been named Major League Soccer's Most Valuable Player.
“Since I arrived here I wanted to make an impact on the league and my club, and that’s made me happy,” he said. “Any reward is part of that. That's been important for me.”
The 31-year-old native of Argentina had 21 goals and 11 assists this season for the Timbers, who finished atop the Western Conference. He is the first midfielder in league history with 20 or more goals in a single season and just the second player overall with at least 20 goals and 10 assists in a single season. His 32 combined goals and assists were the most of any player this season and rank him fifth in MLS history.
Valeri was named the league's 2017
MVP award recipient by vote of the league's club managers, media members and current players. The other nominees included Atlanta's Toronto's
NYCFC's and Chicago's
“You fight hard all season, and to be named player of the year is amazing,” he told the Associated Press. “You work hard for the team and to be recognized from your own people, it's awesome.”