On Sunday against the New York Red Bulls, Fredy Montero scored in the 67th minute marking his 50th competetive goal in the Rave Green.
Fredy Montero is the most prolific scorer in the four seasons of the Sounders FC in Major League Soccer.
This week was one of his best scoring weeks of all.
On Sunday against the New York Red Bulls he scored in the 67th minute to equalize on the road to extend Seattle’s unbeaten streak to four straight in league play and six straight in all competitions.
It was also his 50th competitive goal for the Sounders FC, making him the first to reach the milestone for Seattle.
That highlight moment was made even brighter on Wednesday when he scored two first-half goals in a 4-2 friendly loss to FA Cup and UEFA Champions League winners Chelsea.
“It’s always good to score goals. It’s a top team in the world,” Montero said. “We had good moments and we could have scored more goals.”
He also leads the team with seven goals in 12 matches in the US Open Cup, as well as four in 15 matches the CONCACAF Champions League. Add to that his 39 goals in MLS play and he’s not just the third-highest scorer in MLS since 2009, but also the third across all competitions in that span, behind just San Jose Earthquakes forward Chris Wondolowski and DC United’s Dwayne De Rosario.
His success against opponents from throughout the region and his two goals against Chelsea prompted questions from the media on hand on Wednesday if he had aspirations to put his skills up against the likes of the Premiership.
“I would love to play there. I’m waiting for the right opportunity to come. I’m ready to play in one of those leagues, I think,” he said.
Those desires don’t bother head coach Sigi Schmid. In fact, he encourages it.
“I want each and every one of our players to try and achieve as much as they want to achieve,” Schmid said. “If they’re not hungry and trying to get to that next level and they’re just very content and satisfied then maybe they lose a little bit of that edge, so you want guys to have that edge to play at the best level they can.”
Montero’s recent success, which also includes two goals and one assist in two US Open Cup matches, has come at a good time for the Sounders as they pulled out of a nine-match winless streak and began a four-match unbeaten run.
He even earned the praises of Chelsea manager Roberto Di Matteo, who said after the game, “He has very good technical skills, movement and is also intelligent finding the spaces in between the lines.”
While those comments may make it appear that Montero is bound for a move to Europe soon, he displayed the same dedication to the Sounders FC badge on Wednesday that he has throughout his time in Seattle.
That emotion was even heightened by the reception that Roger Levesque received upon his retirement after ten seasons with the Sounders at the USL and MLS levels.
“Hopefully when I retire, I can get a day like Roger,” he smiled. “I’m happy. I think I have to keep working hard. The opportunities are coming and the goals are coming too.”
The Sounders will take the weekend off, but return to training on Monday. Their next match comes Saturday, July 28 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colorado, against the Colorado Rapids.
