Scary Moment for Sounders as Stefan Frei Injured in the Final Seconds
Seattle Sounders fans experienced an anxious ending during their 1-1 tie with the Columbus Crew on July 6, 2025. It wasn’t just the late drama in the game—goalkeeper Stefan Frei was stretchered off after a scary collision, putting the outcome and everyone’s safety into sharp focus.
The trouble unfolded in stoppage time. Columbus set up for a free kick when Amar Sejdic’s knee and Frei’s head met at full speed in a scramble. Frei, always fearless in the box, took the brunt. Play stopped instantly. Teammates and medical staff rushed in. Despite the blow, Frei stayed conscious and could move, which offered a bit of relief to everyone watching, both in the stadium and at home.
An ambulance arrived and carried Frei off for checks at a nearby hospital. Head coach Brian Schmetzer, deeply shaken, confirmed to reporters soon after that Frei showed no signs of paralysis or life-altering injury—something that could have easily happened in a collision like that. Later that night, Frei took to social media with another update: he was safely home, sore but recovering.
Coaches Prioritize Health Over the Game
Normally, there’s no hesitating when a big game is on the line, but both teams knew the mood had changed. Out of respect for Frei’s health, Columbus coach Wilfried Nancy agreed with Schmetzer to call the match a few seconds early, skipping a final corner kick. For Schmetzer, it was never just about points or pride. “This is about humans before athletes,” he said, sounding genuinely rattled. The decision to cut the match short didn’t bother anyone in the stadium—relief and concern were the only things on most minds.
It’s tough to overstate how emotionally battered the Sounders felt. Just days before the match, midfielder João Paulo tore his ACL in training, a cruel blow in a busy season. The air around the squad was already heavy with sadness after news poured in from Europe: Liverpool’s Diogo Jota had died tragically, and Bayern Munich’s Jamal Musiala suffered a severe injury at the Club World Cup. Schmetzer mentioned that dealing with real-life loss and pain made a night like this even tougher for everyone involved.
Amid all the drama, Frei managed to notch a personal milestone—he recorded his 1,000th regular-season save in a Sounders jersey, a testament to years of consistency and courage at the back.
On the pitch, action was tight. Columbus drew first blood, with Diego Rossi curling in a shot in the 27th minute. The Sounders answered before halftime, as Paul Rothrock tied it up in the 43rd. A red card to Kalani Kossa-Rienzi (thanks to two quick yellows) forced the home side to defend with ten men in the dying moments. But the game, and all the tension that came with it, froze with Frei’s injury.
The night left plenty to think about—not just for players and coaches, but for anyone who’s reminded that soccer is sometimes about much more than goals.