Jesús Ferreira was confident he’d start scoring goals, and that’s just what happened as the U.S. men’s national team rode his four-goal outburst to a 5-0 win over Grenada in their CONCACAF Nations League opener in Austin.
The FC Dallas striker had been under pressure after scoring just once in his last nine caps, but says his four goals were simply the product of focusing on the process rather than the outcome.
“It felt amazing,” Ferreira told ESPN during their broadcast of Friday night’s match. “I wanted to focus on having a good game, getting my touch better, making runs and playing for the team. I wasn’t too much focused on the goals. I wanted to focus on my gameplay and having a good game, and I knew that the goals were going to come.”
Ferreira identified his third goal, firing home a first-time shot created by a corner kick routine, as his favorite on the night. “We had practiced it on the training ground, and so when every time we practice something and it works, it’s a good feeling,” explained Ferreira.
Gregg Berhalter had said before the game that he planned on starting Haji Wright in the USMNT’s next Nations League game (at El Salvador on Tuesday), and speaking to ESPN after full time, indicated that while the goals weren’t necessarily make-or-break for Ferreira, “there’s a certain validation that you get as a striker when you do hit the back of the net… I’m happy for him. He deserves it.”
Ferreira said he feels confident that he’s doing what he can to seal a spot on the final World Cup roster.
“I think I’m in a good spot,” said Ferreira on his status within the competition for the No. 9 position. “I’m just gonna keep working on my game, not focus on the goals, because I know they will come, just having a good game will do the job.”