RENTON — The nature of being a backup goalkeeper is such that your chance usually comes when something bad — or at least unexpected — has happened to the starter.
When Thomas saw Stefan Frei go down late in Sunday’s match, all he could do was start warming up in case he had to actually enter the match.
Luckily, he never actually did as the two head coaches agreed to end the match without taking what would have been a final corner kick.
“I was prepared for that moment, but all of my thoughts were with Stef,” Thomas said following Wednesday’s training session. “It’s not the way you want to get into a lineup at all, but now that the opportunity presents itself, it’s just about taking it and trying to continue the work that he’s been doing in goal.”
Although Frei seems to have escaped any serious injuries from the collision, he will be out for an indeterminate period of time while he’s in the concussion protocol. That puts Thomas in line for what could be his first extended playing time of the season.
A year after getting 15 first-team appearances across all competitions, Thomas has been limited to just three this year and none since allowing four goals to LAFC on May 14.
“It definitely gets a little bit easier each time,” said Thomas, who made his MLS debut in the season-opener last year. “I think that there’s still kind of the nerves and the butterflies around not having had a game in a little bit, but that kind of lends itself to an excitement as well.
Thomas’ experience last year — his stats actually compared reasonably favorably with Frei’s — help give the sense that the Sounders are in capable hands as long as Frei is out.
“He’s an unbelievable shot stopper,” Sounders forward Jordan Morris said. “He’s so hard to score against in the shooting drills. He’s so athletic, he probably has the highest vertical on the team.
“You saw him come in last year and do really well, make big saves, was confident with his feet. We have complete faith in him.”
Morris-Ferreira connection?
Due to a combination of rotation early in the season and injuries more recently, Jesús Ferreira and Morris have started just two MLS games together this year. With Morris returning to full fitness and Ferreira consistently starting at right mid, it looks like we might finally get an extended look at a pairing the Sounders envisioned during the offseason.
Morris is particularly excited at the prospect.
“We’ve talked a lot about how we’re bummed that we haven’t been able to play together this year,” Morris said. “Some of the balls he puts in behind … his vision is incredible.
“He almost plays as more like a No. 10 coming from the wide role. It’s so dangerous for us as a team. It was hard to watch some of those games because we were creating so many chances. I just wanted to be on the field playing with those guys. Jesús brings so much to the group.”
Morris and Ferreira had previously gotten to know one another while with the United States national team, and during preseason their connection was showing some genuine promise.
“I can’t wait to play with him because he for a striker like me, it’s just a dream to play with a guy like that,” Morris said.
Defiance midfielder loaned
Ryan Baer, who was the 28th overall selection of most recent MLS SuperDraft, has been loaned from the Tacoma Defiance to the Richmond Kickers, in USL Division One. Baer had made just two appearances with the Defiance across all competitions this year. The Kickers are coached by former Sounders Academy Director Darren Sawatzky.
