Stefan Frei Saves Sounders from Complete Embarrassment against Toluca

The Seattle Sounders lost their seventh straight match after a 3-0 loss to Toluca in the Leagues Cup group phase. The match was the first Leagues Cup match to take place in Mexico, with all previous editions of the tournament only holding games in the United States. Estadio Nemesio Diez sits around 8,750 feet above sea level, making it one of the toughest stadiums for visitors to play in.

Prior to the match, it was announced on social media that Sounders’ legend Nicolas Lodeiro had officially retired from professional soccer. The Uruguayan international was with the Sounders from 2016 through 2023. He holds the record for most assists in club history, and captained the Sounders to three major titles including two MLS Cups and a Concacaf Champions League. Arguably the greatest player in Sounders’ history, Lodeiro finished his career where he started with Nacional in Uruguay.

It was always going to be an uphill battle for the Sounders in this match. Toluca were recently crowned the champions of Concacaf, while being equally as dominant in LigaMX. The Sounders on the other hand enter the match losing six straight matches, while holding nearly an entire starting lineup’s worth of injured players.

Toluca took advantage from the opening whistle. An early corner was all they needed to net the lead. Mexican international teammates Alexis Vega and Jesus Gallardo combined in just the third minute of play to give the home side the lead. Gallardo was left practically unmarked on the corner, getting a free header on the ball with the time to pick where he would put it. There was no chance for Stefan Frei to save that one.

The best, and only, chance for the Sounders came in the 17th minute. Osaze De Rosario got in behind the defense after a perfect through ball from Jesus Ferreira. De Rosario’s first touch took him a bit too close to the keeper, who saved the shot after De Rosario attempted to scoop the ball up and over. That would mark one of the Sounders’ two shots on goal in the entire match.

Photo: Sounders FC Communications

Toluca were dominant through the entire match. They doubled their lead in the 64th minute after Stefan Frei saved a shot from Alexis Vega, but the ball was spilled right into the path of Helinho who scored with his first touch after subbing into the match. Frei did well enough to make the save from the opening shot, however no one tracked the run of Helinho who was completely alone to pounce on the rebound.

The exclamation point for the home side was in the third minute of added time. Once again Stefan Frei made a quick-reaction save, pushing the ball up and off the post. Much like the second goal, Toluca was first to react to the rebound and Federico Vinas was there to score. The goal would also mark Toluca’s 40th shot of the match, with 19 of them being on target.

Stefan Frei had a tremendous game despite the scoreline. The 40-year-old keeper made a club record 16 saves in the match (Although it appears the MLS website only credited him with 15 after a revision). Frei last started a match against Cruz Azul in the Concacaf Champions Cup back in April. Without the Sounders’ legendary goalkeeper in the match, Toluca may have scored double the amount of goals.

It will be a short turnaround for the Sounders in Leagues Cup as they host Queretaro on Sunday, August 9, before hosting Chivas de Guadalajara on the following Wednesday. The only benefit for the Sounders is that they host their next three matches in total, since they will also host the Whitecaps in their return back to MLS play.

(Cover Photo Credit: Sounders FC Communications)

Sounders Starting XI:

(4-2-3-1)

S. Frei

K. Kossa-Rienzi

S. Hawkins

J. Ragen

Nouhou ©

P. Kingston

S. Brunell

A. Rusnak

J. Ferreira