Jesús Ferreira finally scored for the Seattle Sounders, and it was a crucial game winner.
Ferreira's first Rave Green goal delivered Seattle a 1-0 victory over visiting San Diego FC, affording the Sounders some revenge for a 3-0 rout they endured at Snapdragon Stadium back on April 5.
Answering the bell
Seattle has needed this from Ferreira. The striker arrived via an offseason trade with FC Dallas with over 50 MLS goals to his name, but had yet to find the scoresheet through 15 matches, although he does have five assists.
Now, with a crucial first goal in his locker, the attacker could ease the burden of the injured Jordan Morris’s absence as the Sounders charge their way back up the table.
With Wednesday's win over San Diego, the Sounders moved their record to 7W-4L-5D (26 points), keeping them firmly in the mix for a top-four spot in the West.
“They were coming off the field, but fate has a way of being kind,” head coach Brian Schmetzer said after the match. “We needed him to score, he needed to score to get the fans off of his back.
"As I told him in the locker room, this is the first of many goals for the Sounders.”
Confidence is key
Heading into Wednesday’s rematch with San Diego, the Sounders had only lost twice since the start of April, one of which being the aforementioned away loss at the hands of SDFC. Since then, the Sounders boast a 6W-1L-2D record and, including their Matchday 16 win, have outscored their opponents 9-1 at home during that span.
The club has turned things around following their Concacaf Champions Cup campaign, but Brian Schmetzer wants more from his squad, clearly frustrated after just one shot on target through the first half.
“We tried to change things up tactically to get past their press,” Schmetzer said of the adjustments needed at halftime. “The second half wasn’t our best in possession either, but it was enough. I don’t think this was our best performance.”
Although it may have been too gritty a win for Schmetzer's liking, the result speaks volumes, with victory over the second-place club in the Western Conference meaning that the Sounders have crept to within one point of Minnesota United and San Diego on the table.
Form is coming together at the perfect time for Seattle, who are less than three weeks away from competing in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup with the privilege of playing all three group stage matches at Lumen Field.
