Goalkeeper Stefan Frei made three saves for his MLS-leading 10th shutout of the season as the host Seattle Sounders played to a 0-0 draw with Orlando City on Saturday night.
Pedro Gallese made two saves for Orlando (7-5-7, 28 points), which has lost just once in its past nine games (3-1-5).
The Sounders (8-7-5, 29 points), playing short-handed with three starters on international duty and striker Raul Ruidiaz in Peru to attend his father’s funeral, had a couple of quality scoring chances early but remained winless in their past five matches (0-2-3).
In the opening minute, Gallese was forced to make a diving save on a 10-yard shot from the right side of the penalty area by Seattle’s Heber.
A minute later, the Sounders’ Leo Chu drove down the left wing and sent a cross that eventually reached Nicolas Lodeiro, whose right-footed shot from just outside the 6-yard box banged off the crossbar.
Orlando rookie Duncan McGuire nearly added to his team-leading goal total in the 35th minute. His header from the top of the 6-yard box off Martin Ojeda’s corner kick seemed destined for the lower left corner of the net before Frei made a diving save and smothered the rebound.
The Sounders threatened again early in the second half. Albert Rusnak put a half-volley just wide of the left post in the 49th minute, Lodeiro lofted an attempt just over the crossbar a minute later and Gallese steered Rusnak’s 18-yard shot wide in the 52nd.
In the 66th minute, Orlando’s Michael Halliday drove down the right wing before sending a cross to McGuire, who deflected the ball on net with Frei knocking it away to be cleared by the defense.
The Lions’ best chance to strike came on the counterattack in the 76th minute. Frei made a diving, one-handed save on Facundo Torres’ shot from the left side of the penalty area, with Orlando’s Mauricio Pereyra hammering the rebound over the crossbar from 10 yards out.
–Field Level Media
