Goalkeeper Stefan Cleveland’s flying fingertip save against Austin FC makes its way to the No. 8 spot of the top ten plays of the 2022 year.
In the 66th minute, a recycled ball into the box from opposing defender Nick Lima led to a headed effort by Austin FC center back Ruben Gabrielsen. After beating three Sounders players in the air, Gabrielson’s header seemed destine to score but Cleveland timed it perfectly and utilized his vertical to tip the ball over the crossbar and maintain the lead.
n addition to this highlight reel play, Cleveland made six other saves throughout the match, helping the Sounders pick up a point on the road.
Cleveland’s performance against Austin serves as a reminder of his importance to the team over the last couple of years. The Ohio native was a reliable performer for the Sounders in his seven league starts in 2022.  Cleveland continued to show progress following his breakout season in 2021, when he made his Seattle Sounders debut and supported the team in the starting role for a 15-game stretch while Stefan Frei recovered from a knee injury. His position as backup goalkeeper remains crucial, with his ability to make a difference when he is needed on the pitch.
