When the Seattle Sounders headed into the locker room following their 1-0 win at the San Jose Earthquakes on Wednesday, a result that pushed their unbeaten record to 4-1-0 and four points clear in the Supporters’ Shield standings, the mood was far more somber than one would have expected. The Sounders won the match, although midfielder Cristian Roldan called the game “emotionally draining,” as they lost starting goalkeeper Stefan Frei and midfielder and defensive utility piece Jordy Delem to injuries.
Delem’s diagnosis was the worse of the two, with Head Coach Brian Schmetzer confirming on Wednesday that Delem had ACL damage and would require surgery.