Fredy Montero is staying in Seattle.
Sounders FC announced on Wednesday that Montero, 35, has re-signed with the club ahead of the 2023 campaign. Montero has been a key contributor during his second stint with the Rave Green, tallying 16 goals and eight assists across all competitions the last two seasons.
A veteran forward and club legend, Montero is the club’s all-time leading scorer across all competitions with 76 goals.
Now that Montero’s services have been secured for next year, let’s take a look back at his five best goals of the 2022 season.
5.) Game-winning goal vs. Houston Dynamo
Montero entered this must-win match at Lumen Field with the Sounders trailing the Dynamo by a goal. Nouhou equalized with his first-ever MLS goal in the 59th minute, and Montero looked to have helped set up the winner when he earned a penalty in the 73rd minute but Nicolás Lodeiro’s spot kick was saved. Undeterred, Montero found the go-ahead goal just three minutes later when he headed home a cross from Nouhou at the back post. It was a brilliant finish that kept Seattle in contention for the postseason.
4.) Goal against Toronto FC on the road
This slick finish was classic Montero. After a quick layoff to Lodeiro, he made a clever run into the space vacated by a defender to receive the return pass. Montero took a perfect first touch to set himself up for composed finish at the near post, sealing the three points for a heavily rotated Sounders side on the road.
3.) Golazo against FC Cincinnati
Throughout both stints in Seattle, Montero has garnered a reputation for scoring highlight reel goals from distance. The veteran striker produced another moment of magic in the Rave Green’s 1-1 draw with FC Cincinnati. After finding a pocket of space in the final third, he received a pass from Kelyn Rowe on the half-turn before uncorking a powerful shot that swerved into the top corner.
2.) Second goal against Club Léon (CCL Quarterfinals, Leg One)
When Seattle faced Léon in the Concacaf Champions League Quarterfinals, Lodeiro and Raúl Ruidíaz were both forced to miss the series due to injury. Head Coach Brian Schmetzer brought Montero into the starting lineup, and the club’s all-time leading scorer stepped up with one of the best performances of his career. After opening the scoring with a perfectly placed penalty, he completed his brace with a bit of textbook forward play. As the sequence developed down the right flank, Montero drifted into the box and made a darting run to the near-post, guiding his first-time shot past the goalkeeper. It was a brilliant play that opened the floodgates for the Rave Green as they went on to win the first leg 3-1.
1.) Penalty against Club Léon on the road (CCL Quarterfinals, Leg Two)
While Montero scored some remarkable goals last season, none were more important than his penalty kick on the road against Léon in Leg Two. Since the Liga MX had scored an away goal in the first leg, a 2-0 win in the return fixture would see them advance past Seattle. The Sounders sustained a bit of pressure early in the match before João Paulo earned a penalty on the brink of halftime. Up stepped Montero, and he confidently placed his penalty into the top right corner. It effectively sealed Seattle’s spot in the CCL Semifinals, as Léon would need to score three goals in the second half just to force extra time.
Without Montero’s contributions in the series against Léon, the Sounders would not have become the first MLS club to win the Concacaf Champions League.
