Stefan Frei: Best Seattle Sounders Player of the 2014 MLS Playoffs
Now that I have had almost 72 hours to recover from the Seattle Sounders exit in the 2014 MLS Playoffs, I’ve decided to look back over the four playoffs games they played to determine who played the best. It was not an easy decision as I have a hard time normally selecting one player over another. That being said I am naming Stefan Frei my player of the MLS Playoffs for the Sounders.
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Going into the playoffs Frei was the last person I thought that would be capable of stepping up and having a great four games (it’s a damn shame it wasn’t five games). I would have thought that after the season Obafemi Martins and Clint Dempsey had, it would be one of them. In my mind Chad Marshall came a close second in my decision.
Frei made some big saves for the Sounders during the playoffs, none bigger than in the first leg of the Western Conference semi-finals against FC Dallas. Take a look in the video below:
That save kept the score tied a 1-1 and kept the Sounders in the lead virtue of the new away goal rule. If Frei doesn’t make that stop, the Sounders more than likely don’t advance past Dallas as the second leg ended in a 0-0 draw.
Stefan was once again on his toes for leg two of the Western Conference Finals has he made more than a few key saves. Take a look at the save he made against Robbie Keane after the Sounders went up 2-0:
After the Sounders gave up a goal to Juninho, the Galaxy had another chance has Landon Donovan went streaking down the left side. Donovan was one on one with Frei but was not able to convert to put the nail in the coffin on the Sounders dreams.
Take a look at the save:
If the ball squeaks by Frei, it is all over. He read the play quickly and I’m sure it helped that Marshall was closing down Donovan on his right side. That save gave the Sounders and their supporters hope that there was still a chance to make their first ever MLS Cup Final.
In four post-season games Frei gave up a total of three goals which included one shutout. It could have been a lot worse if it wasn’t for him and that is why Stefan Frei is my Seattle Sounders best player in the 2014 MLS Playoffs.