There is a reason why Jesús Ferreira felt as if “something left his body,” in the 58th minute of the Sounders’ home match against San Diego FC on Wednesday night.
After 19 matches, Ferreria secured his first goal with the Seattle Sounders in the second half of the club’s 1-0 win over the Southern California side.
“It's a lot of emotions, a lot of happiness,” said Ferreira.
In a back and forth battle against a team that beat the Rave Green 3-0 just last month, the forward took matters into his own hands and tallied the game-winner in Seattle.
“I think that I was doing other things right that put me in positions to be able to start games, play games, have minutes,” said Ferreira. “And so for me, it was a matter of time and thankfully, it happened now.”
Following a Paul Rothrock pass from the right flank, Ferreira found himself with his back to goal inside the eighteen-yard box. But, with a touch into space, the former Dallas Homegrown turned his body just enough to place the ball into the lower corner of the net to give the Sounders the lead and eventually, the three points at home.
“I was locked in,” said Ferreira. “I was in the middle. I was in the zone. Once I took my touch, I kind of knew that I wanted to shoot.”
It’s been a long time coming for the 24-year-old, who was known as one of FC Dallas’ top attackers prior to joining the Sounders, with a total of 55 goals in MLS competition — the second most of any other player in the club’s history.
While he could have had doubts during his scoring drought, Ferreira blocked out the noise with his optimistic mindset, and focus on controlling the controllables.
“I've always said that if I can do one thing or one thing is not happening, then try to work on the other things so I can be able to help the team in whatever way I can,” he said.
It was also his teammates’ continued support that allowed him to remain confident when things weren't going his way.
“Every game I try to score, try to assist, and try to give my all and my best, but obviously it's something that I've been working on,” said Ferreira. “And so finally it happened and I'm so grateful that my teammates have always had my back through it all.”
And now that he’s overcome his scoring slump, he’s ready to continue this momentum as the team looks ahead to their next home match on Sunday against Minnesota United (3 p.m. PT; MLS Season Pass on Apple TV | TICKETS).
"Last game gave me a little bit of boost of confidence that I can play that Number 9 position, that I can make runs in the box, that I can have opportunities. And so it was just a matter of me just putting them away," he said. "Today I didn't get that many opportunities as I did [against] Dallas, but I was able to put one away. And so that's what I'm here to do."
Head Coach Brian Schmetzer has high-hopes of Ferreira's future form at the club.
“Tonight, scoring the winning goal… I told him afterwards in the locker room it's the first of many more goals for the Sounders.”
