Sounders goalkeeper Stefan Frei was “back home resting” on Monday after leaving Sunday’s match in Seattle in an ambulance with an injury to his head and neck.
Frei, 39, collided with Columbus Crew midfielder Amar Sejdic’s knee while trying to collect a free kick during second-half stoppage time in the 1-1 draw.
Medical personnel rushed onto the field and placed Frei onto a stretcher before loading him into an ambulance at Lumen Field.
“I’m incredibly grateful to all the staff that looked after me and happy to be back home resting now,” Frei posted on X early Monday morning.
“What resonates is all the messages, calls and love I’ve received from so many of you. Thank you — truly. It means more than I can put into words.”
Instead of resuming play after Frei’s injury, Crew coach Wilfried Nancy and Sounders coach Brian Schmetzer successfully encouraged officials to end the match.
“Wilfried, I appreciate what he did because the ref wasn’t going to stop the game,” Schmetzer said. “Everybody knew that the game should have been stopped. Good on him. So thank you, Wilfried.”
“I hope that everything’s going to be okay with (Frei),” Nancy said. “Our job is not easy. When you see a situation like that, again, football is not the most important. We stay positive, and hopefully everything’s going to be good for him.”
Frei has been minding the Sounders’ net since the 2014 season. Including his time with Toronto from 2011-13, he has recorded 112 clean sheets in 371 career MLS matches.
–Field Level Media
