The Seattle Sounders’ match against Sporting Kansas City on Sunday (1 p.m. PT; ESPN, YouTube TV, 950 KJR AM, El Rey 1360 AM) will feature two of the best goalkeepers Major League Soccer has to offer.
Seattle’s Stefan Frei and SKC’s Tim Melia, both 31, solidified their spots as MLS elite last year in what was the best individual season in their respective careers. Frei led MLS with 13 shutouts and earned his first All-Star nod before leading the Sounders back to MLS Cup. Melia, meanwhile, led MLS in Goals Against Average and Save Percentage (> 1,500 minutes) en route to being named Goalkeeper of the Year.
Frei and Melia were coincidentally each late bloomers. Frei started three disappointing seasons for Toronto FC from his rookie year in 2009 to ’11 before playing only one game with TFC in the next two seasons combined due to injury and a loss of the starting role. He found a resurgence in Seattle in 2014, though, finishing sixth in MLS in saves and third in shutouts. He currently ranks 9th all time in MLS shutouts and 11th in wins.
Melia played a total of just six games in his first five seasons. He backed up Nick Rimando for two seasons with Real Salt Lake before playing three years behind Dan Kennedy at Chivas USA. He finally had his breakthough in 2015 with Sporting when he started 23 games and finished with eight shutouts before solidifying his bona fide status last year. This past Sunday, Melia set a career high with 10 saves in a 2-0 win on the road at the LA Galaxy.
“They’re both talented, talented players,” Sounders Head Coach Brian Schmetzer said of Frei and Melia on Tuesday. “I think a little bit of adversity has helped both of those guys. They’re both very, very good.”
