The Seattle Sounders have historically boasted one of the best defensive records in Major League Soccer since Head Coach Brian Schmetzer took the reins in 2016. Three times they’ve led the league in fewest goals conceded, including in 2024 when they allowed just 35 goals in 34 matches.
2025 went a bit differently, however, with Seattle conceding 48 times, the second-most under Schmetzer. One of the main focuses coming out of preseason this year was to nip some of the defensive lapses in the bud and get back to posting clean sheets. In the Sounders 2-0 win over the Colorado Rapids in their opening match of the 2026 MLS campaign on Sunday, they did just that.
“We gave away a few too many goals last year, so that’s also been a point of emphasis for us,” said Schmetzer. “I think the set piece defending tonight was very good. That’s something that we’ve worked on in preseason. Overall, I was very pleased with the result, obviously the clean sheet, but also the way we defended.”
The Sounders dominated possession with much of the game seeing them with over 60% of the ball. They also stymied any legitimate Colorado threats, suffocating the Rapids in the final third and limiting them to just 0.6 Expected Goals.
Goalkeeper Andrew Thomas, who begins 2026 as the No. 1, had little to do for much of the match, making a couple routine saves before finally being called upon in second-half stoppage time to snuff out an Alex Harris chance at the near post.
“It’s always good to get a few of the jitters out in the first game played in three-and-a-half months,” said Thomas, who officially recorded three saves on the evening. “The pressure of an MLS game is obviously different to a preseason scrimmage, so it was just spending the first few minutes of the game getting the feet under you again. I think that we played pretty well.”
Sunday was Thomas’ 14th career MLS start after making 13 starts and 15 overall appearances since 2024 as Stefan Frei’s backup. At least to begin 2026, the keys are in the hands of the 27-year-old, who was named the Best Goalkeeper in the 2025 Leagues Cup while helping guide the Sounders to continental glory.
“Irrespective of whether you’re the [No.] 2 or the [No.] 1, it’s about taking your opportunity and staying out on the field,” said Thomas. “Stef’s a phenomenal goalkeeper. We’ve got two No. 1s in the squad. Be it now, be it in the past, I’m still trying to play the same way and try and keep my name on the team sheet.
“[Stef and I have] had a great relationship for five years now, and he’s as much a coach to me as [Club Director of Goalkeeping] Tommy [Dutra] is,” added Thomas.
Thomas and the Sounders will look to ride their Matchday 1 high into Utah next Saturday for a clash against Real Salt Lake (4:30 p.m. PT; Apple TV), the first of six consecutive matches in all competitions away from the friendly confines of Lumen Field.
“It’s the start of a new year,” said Schmetzer. “It was a good result for Andrew to start the year off on a positive.”
