Seattle Sounders Break Through With Houston Dynamo Shutout

The Seattle Sounders won their first-ever MLS contest in Houston. Their startling victory over the Houston Dynamo begins the first leg of the Western Conference Championship.

The Seattle Sounders stunned a standing-room Houston Dynamo crowd with their two-goal shutout on Tuesday, November 22.

Seattle held the ball 56.8% of the game, with the Dynamo down a man from the 28th minute.
Neither team rained shots on goal. Rather than testing their familiar 4-3-3 formations, both teams switched primarily to 4-2-3-1 schemes.

Both goalkeepers posted three saves. But the Sounders got two extra shots on goal and made them count. Gustav Svensson and Will Bruin netted those two, assisted respectively by Nicolás Lodeiro and Joevin Jones.

Then The Seattle Sounders Difference

The Sounders’ difference in the game lay in their defensive scheme. As the Dynamo attacked and the Sounders filled their defensive area, they posted 22 clearances to Houston’s 17.
They sealed the shutout despite holding out star G Stefan Frei with a hamstring strain.

"Sounders Head Coach Brian Schmetzer: If it was an MLS Cup final, I would have played him."

In an exclusive interview with MLSMultiplex.com, Frei says he’s hopeful he won’t have to wait that long. Frei took the club records in 2016, finishing that season with 301 saves and 48 wins.

Frei used the brief pause in play to analyze Seattle and Houston game in the first leg of the MLS Western Conference Championship. He said the club used their playoff experience against the Vancouver Whitecaps and similarities with Houston to prepare.

"Frei: Like Vancouver, the Dynamo are dangerous in transition. They have crafty, speedy players. So in the first half, we wanted to have them create something. Then we wanted to make sure we didn’t get caught on the counter.We work against getting caught in a track meet in their place. Not get into a shooting contest. Then we take care of our chances. Make it difficult for our opponents to break us down."

The early goal changed things in Seattle’s favor quickly.

"Frei: We want to win games in a very professional and controlled manner. We got some clutch blocks and would have liked to have scored a few more goals. But we are proud of how we defend as a unit. We instill that in the whole team. And we got a great, historic result on the road."

Both Win Big for Youth Soccer

Although celebrating the Sounders’ first winning MLS result in Houston, Frei congratulated Dynamo G Joe Willis with his dramatic save on Nicolás Lodeiro’s penalty kick in the 29th minute. He had two reasons for acknowledging Willis’ effort.

First: Willis did make a replay-worthy save on the kick in the net’s bottom right corner. Second: Both Willis and Frei joined Allstate Insurance’s Home Field Protection program for community youth soccer. This program ensures that community’s have great fields for the next generation of soccer players and fans.

During this year’s MLS playoffs, every goalkeeper’s save earns two new soccer nets for these fields, presented to their youth programs by Allstate. So the six saves in the Dynamo-Sounders game won 12 new nets for youth soccer.

Next: Getting rough for #SaveTheCrew Effort

Meanwhile, Houston Dynamo Head Coach Wilmer Cabrera studies how his club can get an equally startling result when Houston heads to Seattle on November 30.

Frei said the Sounders expect a powerful effort from the Houston when they visit. And some more nets for youth soccer.

For the sake of community soccer and American youth, keep on saving, guys.