Setting a career best for most saves in a match is always bittersweet for a goalkeeper. Sure, it shows you managed to prevent many goals from happening, yet the defense allowed an uncharacteristic amount of shots, as well. Such was the case on Wednesday evening at Red Bull Arena, when Stefan Frei's 11 saves were not enough in the 2-1 loss to the New York Red Bulls.
"It could have been 8-1 for all that matters," Frei told analyst Steve Zakuani after the match. "We looked tired out there. We needed to keep the ball... It just wasn't a good performance today."
Despite the team's struggles in 2018 -- the Sounders are now 3-8-2 in the regular season -- the sluggish performance came as a surprise from the Rave Green. It was just a few days ago that the Sounders fought off D.C. United with a 2-1 comeback, and this lineup featured nearly a first-choice midfield with Osvaldo Alonso and VÃctor RodrÃguez starting alongside each other for the first time in 2018.
Just like the 2-1 win at Toronto and 1-0 loss at Portland in May, the Sounders rolled out a five-man back line with three center backs: Chad Marshall, Kim Kee-hee and Tony Alfaro. Unfortunately, it didn't go as expected. After 45 minutes, Alfaro was subbed out for Clint Dempsey and the Sounders trailed 1-0.
"We knew that [sub] was going to happen, that was already planned," Head Coach Brian Schmetzer said after the match. "When they scored a goal, we accelerated that a little bit."
In the second half, Red Bulls' shot barrage continued. The first attempt slipped into the net for RBNY's two-goal advantage, but Frei went on to save the next eight attempts on frame. Harry Shipp scored late to give a glimmer of hope, but it wasn't enough. The Sounders had fallen 2-1 and Frei set a new club record with 11 saves in an MLS regular season match.
"It wasn't the result we were looking for, but we will keep fighting," Schmetzer said.
"It's do or die, honestly. Do we want to be in the playoffs or not?" Frei added. "There can't be anything left to chance. It's coming down to the wire."
After the FIFA World Cup break this week, the Sounders return to action on Saturday, June 23 against the Chicago Fire.
