Jesús Ferreira returned to Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas, on Saturday for the first time since joining the Seattle Sounders this past offseason. The 24-year-old United States international forward spent eight years with FC Dallas, coming up through their Academy and shining for the club just like his father, David, had done previously en route to a 2010 MLS MVP Award.
The trip home for Ferreira was full of emotions: excitement, anxiousness and more. But despite his youth, he’s already in his ninth season in the league and did what he knew he needed to do. He blocked out the noise, and in doing so helped the Sounders capture a 1-0 victory and their first road win of the season.
“For me it was an experience today,” Ferreira said postgame. “I was a professional. I have the team first. My first focus was coming in here and making sure that I was tuned in. There are a lot of distractions: a lot of family, a lot of friends. We came here two days before. We got here Thursday. I was able to see a little bit of my family and friends, and when today came, Saturday morning, I was tuned in because I know that we needed these three points and it was going to be a tough game.
“Seeing everybody and having my family in the stands was the most important,” he continued. “These are games that are exciting…It was more the mental side and making sure I was well-prepared for the game and I could be the best version [of myself] as possible.”
Head Coach Brian Schmetzer was appreciative of his forward’s effort as well. The Sounders were without a few key attacking pieces on Saturday — Albert Rusnák missed out with an adductor injury, Jordan Morris was a late scratch because of an adductor precaution and Pedro de la Vega was on a 45-minute limit — and needed Ferreira to be active and productive in the final third.
“There was pressure on him because he was going back home,” Schmetzer said of Ferreira. “He handled that very well. There were press obligations, there were family obligations, there were friends that all wanted a piece of him, but he was very composed. He was calm before the game. We had a discussion about tuning things out. He did a good job. He liked that left pocket, he liked playing there, and I thought he was effective.”
Ferreira played all 90 minutes, tallying 0.12 xG on two shots on goal and recording one Key Pass. He’s still awaiting his first goal in Rave Green, something for which he’s prepared and eagerly anticipating.
“It’s patience and knowing that things will come,” said Ferreira. “I’m looking forward to it. I’m waiting. I’m training every day to score the goal, and I’m excited for that day to come.”
The Sounders return to Lumen Field next Saturday after a three-match road trip for a date with Nashville SC (4:30 p.m. PT; Watch on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV | TICKETS) in a match that Ferreira hopes Seattle can use the momentum from its win in Dallas to string together another positive result.
“The team was well-prepared during the week,” he said. “We knew that we needed to get three points, and where else to get them but here in Dallas [against] a team that has been pulling out points, a team that’s individually and collectively good. It’s going to set us up. We all know that this was a huge three points for us and hopefully it can carry us on into the next games.”
