Sounders match with Columbus halted at 1-1 after worrisome injury to Stefan Frei

The Seattle Sounders’ match with Columbus was called off with seconds remaining due to a scary injury to goalkeeper Stefan Frei.  Frei sprinted off his goal to contest a free kick lob by Diego Rossi and was kicked in the head and knocked to the ground, where he remained motionless for several seconds.  Trainers rushed the field to attend to  Frei, who regained his consciousness and was able to move his extremities. Frei was transported to a local hospital for further testing, and the game was called off.

GOOD START BUT NO RESULTS

Going into the game, Sounders head coach Brian Schmetzer talked about how he wanted his team to start on the front foot with a high press, use the energy of the home crowd, and get an early goal.The Sounders won the first twenty minutes of the match as planned. They had several chances to score early that could have led to a dream start.

EARLY CHANCES

 Inside the first two minutes, Albert Rusnack passed the ball to Danny Musoviski, who hit a streaking Paul Rothrock, who cut inside, then slid the ball to  Jesus Frerreria, who skied the ball into the stands.  Rothrock continued to run at the Columbus Crew defense and cause them problems. Two more passes by the Rothrock to Ferreria went begging, one in the 5^th minute and the other in the 16^th minute. The missed opportunities were a wake-up call for the visitors.

COLUMBUS STRIKES FIRST  BLOOD

Consistent count pressure from Columbus weighed on the Sounders, and the possession battle shifted to the visitors, who unlocked the Seattle defense in the 27^th minute. Darlington Nagbe carried the ball into the Sounders’ defensive half, slotted the ball to Jacel Russell-Rowe, who fed the ball to a wide-open Ibrahim Aliyu on the right side of the Sounders’ defense. Aliyu wasted no time in knocking the ball to a wide-open Diego Rossi for the 1-0 lead. 

SOUNDERS FIND A RESPONSE

Credit the Sounders for a determined bite back. After the goal, the Sounders stayed diligent in their passing and resolute in their defending. Rothrock continued to push,  as did  Kolani Kossa-Rienzi on the right side,  and  Obed Vargas and Albert Rusnáck in the middle. The Sounders continued to look for overloads in the primary assist zone and played a high-tempo style of soccer. 

The Sounders were rewarded for their effort when they found the equalizer minutes before halftime.  Vargas intercepted a Columbus pass, and the Sounders made 14 consecutive passes that ended with Kossa-Rienzi cutting inside from the right flank and feeding the ball to a streaking Rothrock for the equalizer in the  43^rd minute.  The first half ended with a draw.

SOUNDERS MAKE HALFTIME ADJUSTMENT

The Sounders started the second half the same way they started the game, on the front foot with a high press that was looking to turn over the Crew. Overlapping runs by the Rothrock created room for Kossa Rienzi, who in turn allowed Rusnák, Vargas, and Ferreria to emerge.  A galloping run by Rusnâk in the 52nd minute found a speeding Rothrock, who beat two Crew defenders but was unable to get the ball past Crew goalkeeper Evan Bush. Who made a spectacular save? Seattle had a decent chance on the ensuing corner kick, but Jackson Ragen’s header went off his face, then his arm.

CREDIT FRANCINE SCOTT FOR GALLERY IMAGES

CHESS MATCH TO THE END

The game turned into a chess match, with both sides succeeding in possession and waiting to pounce on the counterattack. Schmetzer inserted Jordan Morris for  Musoviski in the 71^st minute to bring in fresh legs and the speed to stretch the backline. Nine minutes later, Schmetzer went for broke when he inserted  Pedro de la Verga for Rusnák and Ryan Kent for Rothrock.

The attacking-minded line-up put the Crew on the back foot until the second minute of stoppage.  Kossa-Rienzi received a second yellow card, and the Sounders were down to ten minutes.  The numerical disadvantage forced Schmetzer to adopt a defensive approach. He inserted center back Jon Bell for Ferreira. The Sounders were able to hold off the Crew the rest of the way.

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