The game between the Seattle Sounders and the Columbus Crew ended in a 1-1 draw during the final seconds of stoppage time after Stefan Frei went down with an injury on Sunday, July 6.
The Sounders goalkeeper was seen diving in the direction of the ball on a Columbus Crew’s corner kick attempt while several players were coming toward him and the net, trying to make a play on the ball. Frei took a knee to the head during the Columbus Crew’s corner kick attempt.
Medical officials were on the field to evaluate Frei before an ambulance arrived and he was transported off the field.
Seattle head coach Brian Schmetzer said after the game that Frei was alert. He was being evaluated for both neck and head injuries.
‘(Frei) got hit pretty hard,’ Schmetzer said. ‘We’re in the early stages of that evaluation. As soon as we get a definitive, a real, good clarity on the extent of the injury, we’ll give you more. I don’t want to speculate.
‘He is going to the hospital, but he is fine. He was alert when he was loaded onto the ambulance … I’m very happy for our medical staff because they did a good job to be careful. We can’t underestimate that type of stuff.’
The game was no longer a priority for Schmetzer, who was heard during the game’s broadcast on Apple TV asking for officials to ‘stop the game’ following Frei’s injury.
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