Sounders notes: Stefan Frei shines again in CONCACAF Champions League final
There have been many significant firsts for the Seattle Sounders during the past decade.
The Supporters’ Shield win in 2014.
The first MLS Cup victory in 2016.
The first MLS Cup victory at home in front of a record-breaking crowd in 2019.
Stefan Frei, now in his ninth season as Seattle’s goalkeeper, has been a centerpiece of all of them.
When the Sounders added another significant first to their impressive history Wednesday night at Lumen Field, Frei again played a central role.
With another record-breaking audience packed inside the stadium, Frei kept a clean sheet, and Seattle secured a decisive, 3-0, victory over visiting Pumas UNAM in the second leg of the CONCACAF Champions League final to win on 5-2 aggregate.
The Sounders also became the first MLS team in history to win a CONCACAF Champions League trophy in the current format.
“It’s everything,” Frei said following the win. “For me, one of the biggest ones is the 2016 (MLS) championship, because it’s the very first one in team history. I said to the guys before the game started that the very first one, there’s only one, and that’s why it’s history.
“So today was an opportunity to achieve that as well. The next 200 years, there will be 200 other CONCACAF champions, but there will never be another first one. So you truly write yourself in the history books that way.”
Pumas sent seven shots in Frei’s direction, but never found the back of the net, with Frei sending away any close chances. Frei’s one official recorded save during the contest was in the 65th minute, when Seattle was clinging to a 1-0 lead.
Washington Corozo sent in a cross to Diogo, and his header was on target, but Frei popped it away from the goal to avoid an equalizer. The Sounders scored twice more in the second half to run away with the win.
Frei later received tournament awards for both Best Player and Best Goalkeeper, but was quick to recognize his teammates’ contributions.
“I’m just happy that I was able to help the team, and do what I’m supposed to do, which is try to make it as difficult as possible for opponents to score,” he said.
“It’s a team sport, and A, I couldn’t do my job without exceptional teammates, and B, the most important thing is the team trophy, and that’s what we were able to achieve today.”
Frei said he “got a little choked up” as the contest — played in front of the largest crowd in the tournament’s history — neared the final whistle, and many of the announced 68,741 in attendance lit the stadium with their cell phones.
“It’s special — very special,” he said. “As a little kid, this is what you dream of. You do the airplane and close your eyes and you envision a stadium full of people like this chanting you on, and this is it.
“So, to have the opportunity to live out that dream is precious. I cherish it.”
ROWE, VARGAS STEP UP
The Sounders made two substitutions in the first half due to injuries, and both Kelyn Rowe and Obed Vargas made key contributions when called upon early.
“I think it just speaks to the depth that we have,” Sounders forward Jordan Morris said.
Sounders coach Brian Schmetzer said he’s “happy to have a good, deep squad” when those unexpected situations come up.
“That’s what is required to win a tournament like this and to compete in MLS,” he said. “So, I thought the performances were very good.”
Rowe entered the game in the 11th minute, replacing Nouhou Tolo (right quad) at left back, and helping the Sounders keep the shutout in tact the rest of the way.
Rowe has also been “fighting a little bit of an injury,” Schmetzer said, but was sure to be ready for this contest.
“He was a little bit 50-50 on whether he was actually going to be able to even play,” Schmetzer said. “So, he gutted it out because he wanted to participate in the game.”
Vargas, who is 16 years old, subbed in at the 29th minute, in place of midfielder João Paulo (right knee).
“The kid has played some big games for us,” Schmetzer said. “He stepped in and performed.”
LOCAL CHAMPIONS
Five of the Sounders who appeared in Wednesday’s contest have ties to local high school and college programs.
Morris, who started Wednesday’s final, and Rowe, who played 70 minutes, are former local high school products. Morris once starred at Mercer Island. Rowe once starred at Federal Way. Jackson Ragen, who subbed in for Morris during stoppage time, is a University Prep product.
Both Cristian Roldán (Washington) and Alex Roldán (Seattle U), who also started Wednesday, played college soccer in Seattle.
Rowe said playing in this CCL final in Seattle was “the backyard moment every kid has.”
“This is that moment in front of 70,000 fans at home, in front of my friends and family,” he said. “To win this big tournament, and the first in MLS to do so, it’s a dream come true.”
Morris — who is also a two-time MLS Cup winner with the Sounders — said this “means everything.”
“Growing up watching, knowing I wanted to be on this field playing for this team, and then going through a couple really tough injuries, to get back on the field in moments like this and be a part of this championship with this team, it just means everything to me,” he said.
‘YOU FELT THE ENERGY IN THIS BUILDING’
Wednesday’s record-breaking crowd was not only the largest crowd for a CCL final in the tournament’s history, but also the largest Sounders crowd at Lumen Field since the 2019 MLS Cup win.
Morris noted the importance of the crowd’s contribution to another historic win for Seattle this time around.
“It’s amazing,” he said. “We’re super fortunate. We have the best fans in the league, and they showed up tonight and helped us to this win. So, we’re super pumped we could do it for them.”
Schmetzer — another former local standout who attended Nathan Hale in Seattle, and has played and coached professionally in both Seattle and Tacoma during his career — also applauded the electric atmosphere.
“The connection to the fans and the players is the spirit of this club,” Schmetzer said. “When the teams walked out tonight, that was awesome. It was really awesome. You guys felt the energy in the building. The players felt it. It was spectacular.”
This story was originally published May 5, 2022 at 12:28 AM.
