HOUSTON — There was reason for concern as the Sounders opened their Western Conference Final series Tuesday night minus goalkeeper extraordinaire Stefan Frei.
But Frei, out with a hamstring injury and missing only his second game all year, became a mere footnote on a night a first-half offensive barrage put the Sounders in the proverbial driver’s seat to another MLS Cup appearance. Goals by Gustav Svensson and Will Bruin propelled the Sounders to a 2-0 victory against a Houston Dynamo team that had been beaten just once at home all season.
It means the Dynamo must score at least twice in the Nov.