Jesús Ferreira had a night to remember against an overwhelmed opponent in the United States’ World Cup sendoff.
The 21-year-old forward tied the U. …
Jesús Ferreira had a night to remember against an overwhelmed opponent in the United States’ World Cup sendoff. The 21-year-old forward tied the U.S. international record with four goals that included a hat trick in a 13-minute span Friday night during a 5-0 rout over Grenada. The hard-to-evaluate performance against the world’s 170th-ranked team came in a CONCACAF Nations League match played 164 days before the Americans’ opener in Qatar. Just three warmup matches remain before U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter picks his World Cup roster.
“I think I’m in a good spot,” said Ferreira, a son of former Colombian national team midfielder David Ferreira, the 2010 Major League Soccer MVP. “I’m not going to focus on the goals because I know they will come. Just having a good game will do the job.”
Ferreira is competing for a roster spot and playing time with Ricardo Pepi, Haji Wright, Josh Sargent, Jordan Pefok and Daryl Dike. After an array of misfires, Ferreira put the 15th-ranked U.S. ahead in the 43rd minute, then added goals in the 54th, 56th and 78th to give him seven in 12 international matches. His four goals matched Landon Donovan (2003), Joe-Max Moore (1993), Buff Donelli (1934) and Archie Stark (1925).
“There’s a certain validation that you get as a striker when you do hit the back of the net,” Berhalter said.
