The Sounders needed three points. Stefan Frei made sure they got all three.
As a result, the star goalkeeper earned MLS Save of the Year for his incredible match-saving stop against the Colorado Rapids on the Fourth of July, which was announced on MLS ExtraTime Radio on Tuesday afternoon.
In the 82nd minute, the Sounders held a 2-1 lead when the Rapids created a dangerous scoring opportunity on a counterattack. Shkëlzen Gashi received a low cross and sent a one-time shot toward the empty net, but Frei quickly shuffled to his left and knocked the ball away with one hand. The Rave Green held on for the 2-1 win.
Frei’s stunning save sparked an unprecedented streak. Heading into the match, the Sounders sat at the bottom of the conference table with a 3-9-3 record. With the win at Colorado, the Sounders went on a 15-2-2 run to close the season, setting an MLS record for consecutive wins (nine) and recording the best half-season in league history.
