USMNT REWIND: Jesús Ferreira Heads to WCQ Camp on Strength of First Career Hat Trick
Pulisic Scores Seventh Career Champions League Goal, Reyna Records Assist, Arriola and Zimmerman Find Back of the net in MLS
Jesús Ferreira prepped for the final FIFA World Cup window in the best way possible.
And he did it in triplicate.
The FC Dallas forward recorded his first career hat-trick, powering his team to a 4-1 victory against the Portland Timbers on Saturday, March 19.
The 21-year-old Ferreira, who assisted on Dallas' fourth goal, scored his first three goals of the MLS season during a 10-minute span in the first half.
At 21 years, 85 days old, Ferreira became the second youngest American to register an MLS hat-trick, following only behind former FC Dallas and current USA teammate Ricardo Pepi, who was 18 at the time of his accomplishment.
He started the fastest hat-trick in club history in the 26th minute, when Alan Velasco crossed the ball into the penalty area as Paul Arriola allowed it to go through his legs. Then Ferreira drilled an eight-yard shot under the crossbar for a 1-0 lead.
On the half hour, Ferreira played the ball to Nanu on the right side. He crossed the ball to the forward, who headed it home from close range for a two-goal margin.
Six minutes later, Ferreira completed his hat-trick. Paxton Pomykal laid the ball off to Brandon Servania, who set up Ferreira for a blast just outside the area for a 3-0 lead.
Ferreira wasn't finished. In the 77th minute, he set up fellow USMNT teammate Paul Arriola's goal to close out the scoring. It was Arriola’s first since joining FC Dallas via trade earlier this year.
The performance comes ahead of a crucial set of WCQ matches, with the USMNT visiting Mexico on Thursday, March 24. They will host Panama in Orlando, Fla. on March 27 before closing it out at Costa Rica on March 30.
PULISIC SCORES IN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Christian Pulisic enjoyed a pretty good week in two cup competitions. He scored his seventh goal in UEFA Champions League competition, helping Chelsea each the quarterfinals in a 2-1 victory at Lille in the Round of 16 second leg on Wednesday, March 16.
It was Pulisic’s fourth Champions League knockout-stage goal, one more than all other U.S. internationals combined. He tied Trinidad & Tobago’s Dwight Yorke for the most knockout stage goals by a Concacaf international.
.@ChampionsLeague goal No. 7️⃣ for @cpulisic_10 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
— U.S. Soccer MNT (@USMNT) March 16, 2022
pic.twitter.com/vPKTEurnG5
The 23-year-old Chelsea forward latched on to a Jorginho pass and beat goalkeeper Leonardo Jardim from the edge of the six-yard box three minutes into first-half stoppage time. Chelsea won the series, 4-2, on aggregate. Tim Weah came off the bench in the 58th minute, as he and Pulisic became the first U.S. internationals to play in the same UCL knockout stage match. Chelsea will play Real Madrid in two legs in April.
Pulisic didn't figure in the scoring of the Blues' 2-0 FA Cup quarterfinal win at Middlesbrough on Saturday, March 19, but logged 68 minutes as a starter. Chelsea will meet Crystal Palace in the semifinals on April 16 or 17.
BACK IN FORM
Gio Reyna took a giant step in his recovery from a hamstring injury last week. He assisted on the winning goal in Borussia Dortmund's 1-0 Bundesliga win at Mainz on Wednesday, March 16.
A goal and a man of the match performance, @cpulisic_10 speaks after Chelsea qualify for the #UCL round of 16. 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/D98F7r2Kc9
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) March 16, 2022
After replacing Mahmoud Dahoud in the 69th minute, Reyna served up a 36-yard free kick into the box that Axel Witsel placed past goalkeeper Robin Zentner in the 87th minute.
Reyna didn't figure in the goal-scoring in Borussia Dortmund's 1-1 draw at FC Cologne but started his first match after returning from injury and went the full 90 minutes.
A HEADY GOAL
Walker Zimmerman tallied his first goal of the season and 17th of his MLS career in Nashville SC's 2-1 defeat at Real Salt Lake on Saturday, March 19. The veteran center back headed in Hany Mukhtar's 25-yard free kick from close range to knot the game up at 1-1 in the 25th minute.
Header Zimmerman ⚡️
— U.S. Soccer MNT (@USMNT) March 20, 2022
pic.twitter.com/6HuuSaDAVD
IN ACTION
All three goalkeepers on the USMNT's 27-player WCQ roster were in action last week.
Zach Steffen saw his first action for Manchester City in five months, making three saves in a 4-1 victory at Southampton in the FA Cup win on Sunday, March 20. He last was in the nets for the English Premier League side in a 2-0 win over Burnley on Oct. 16.
Crucial save from @USMNT's @zacksteffen_ 🧤#EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/PuCTlQFJT5
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) March 20, 2022
Ethan Horvath backstopped Nottingham Forest to a 3-1 win over Queens Park Rangers in the English League Championship on Wednesday, March 16. He also was between the posts in a 1-0 defeat to Liverpool in the FA Cup quarterfinals on Sunday, March 20.
Horvath says 𝗻𝗼 ❌@NFFC @USMNT #EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/o6DzjXAR73
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) March 20, 2022
Sean Johnson appearing in two matches as well, playing in a 4-2 loss at Comunicaciones in the Concacaf Champions League on Tuesday, March 15 and a 2-0 home defeat to the Philadelphia Union on Saturday, March 19.
MOVING ON
When WCQ is completed, three USMNT players will clash in the Concacaf Champions League semifinals next month - the Seattle Sounders' Cristian Roldan and Jordan Morris and NYCFC's Sean Johnson. Seattle will host NYCFC in the first leg on April 6 before traveling to the east coast for the second leg on April 13.
Despite a 4-2 loss at Comunicaciones FC in its quarterfinal series, Johnson and NYCFC advanced on the strength of more away goals (2 to 1) after the sides tied on aggregate at 5-5.
The Sounders won their quarterfinal series on 4-1 aggregate against Club Leon after recording a 1-1 road draw on Thursday, March 17. Morris and Roldan did not figure in the scoring, but Roldan assisted on Will Bruin's 41st-minute score in a 1-1 league draw at Austin FC on Sunday, March 20.
.@CristianRoldan finds his man 🇺🇸
— U.S. Soccer MNT (@USMNT) March 20, 2022
pic.twitter.com/PM3gPendMp
FULL RUNDOWN
-- Brenden Aaronson (Red Bull Salzburg; Austrian Bundesliga) - Injured, DNP in 4-1 win at Wolfsberger AC (March 20); 120 minutes, PK in shootout in 1-1 draw (5-4 PK win) in OFB Cup (March 16)
-- Kellyn Acosta (Los Angeles FC; MLS) - 90 minutes in 3-1 win vs. Vancouver Whitecaps (March 20)
-- Tyler Adams (RB Leipzig; German Bundesliga) – In 18, DNP in 0-0 draw vs. Eintracht Frankfurt (March 20)
-- Paul Arriola (FC Dallas; MLS) - 90 minutes, GOAL, in 4-1 win vs. Portland Timbers (March 19)
-- Cole Bassett (Feyenoord; Dutch Eredivisie) – In 18, DNP in 3-2 loss at Ajax (March 20)
-- George Bello (Arminia Bielefeld; Bundesliga) - 90 minutes in 4-0 loss at Mainz (March 19)
-- John Brooks (Wolfsburg; Germany Bundesliga) - 88 minutes in 2-0 loss vs. Bayer Leverkusen (March 20)
-- Gianluca Busio (Venezia; Italy Serie A) – 34 minutes as a substitute in 2-0 loss vs. Sampdoria (March 20); 78 minutes in 1-0 loss at Lazio (March 14)
-- Reggie Cannon (Boavista; Portuguese Primeira) - 90 minutes in 1-0 loss vs. Porto (March 20)
-- Cameron Carter-Vickers; (Celtic; Scottish Premiership) - 90 minutes in 4-0 win vs. Ross County (March 19); 90 minutes in 3-0 win at Dundee United in Scottish FA Cup (March 14)
-- Justin Che (Hoffenheim; Bundesliga) - 13 minutes as a substitute in 3-0 loss at Hertha Berlin (March 19)
-- Konrad de la Fuente (Marseille; French Ligue 1) – Not in 18, DNP in 2-1 win vs. Nice (March 20); In 18, DNP in 2-1 win at Basel in Europa Conference League (March 17)
-- Luca de la Torre (Heracles; Dutch Eredivisie) – 90 minutes in 2-0 loss at Heerenveen (March 18)
-- Sergiño Dest (Barcelona; Spain La Liga) - Injured, DNP in 4-0 win at Real Madrid (March 20); 56 minutes in 2-1 win at Galatasaray in Europa League (March 17)
-- Jesús Ferreira (FC Dallas; MLS) - 80 minutes, THREE GOALS, ASSIST, in 4-1 win vs. Portland Timbers (March 19)
-- Nicholas Gioacchini (Montpellier; French Ligue 1) - In 18, DNP in 2-0 win at Bordeaux (March 20)
-- Julian Green (Greuther Fürth; German Bundesliga) - 19 minutes as a substitute in 0-0 draw vs. Freiburg (March 19)
-- Brad Guzan (Atlanta United; MLS) - 90 minutes in 3-3 draw vs. CF Montreal (March 19)
-- Matthew Hoppe (Mallorca; Spanish Primera) - In 18, DNP in 1-0 loss at Espanyol (March 20); Not in 18, DNP in 3-0 loss vs. Real Madrid (March 14)
-- Ethan Horvath (Nottingham Forest; English Championship) - 90 minutes in 1-0 loss vs. Liverpool in F.A. Cup (March 20); 90 minutes in 3-1 win vs. Queens Park Rangers (March 16)
-- Sean Johnson (New York City FC; MLS) - 90 minutes in 2-0 loss vs. Philadelphia Union (March 19); 90 minutes in 4-2 loss at Comunicaciones FC in CCL (March 15)
-- Sebastian Lletget (New England Revolution; MLS) - 72 minutes in 3-1 loss at FC Charlotte (March 19)
-- Aaron Long (New York Red Bulls; MLS) - 90 minutes in 1-1 draw vs. Columbus Crew (March 20)
-- Mark McKenzie (Genk; Belgian Pro League) – Not in 18, DNP in 3-1 loss at Club Brugge (March 20)
-- Matt Miazga (Alaves; Spain La Liga) - In 18, DNP in 3-2 loss vs. Granada (March 19)
-- Shaq Moore (Tenerife; Spain Segunda Division) - Vs. Almeria (Monday, 4 p.m. ET)
-- Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders FC; MLS) - 34 minutes as a substitute in 1-1 draw at Austin FC (March 20); 61 minutes in 1-1 draw at Club Leon in CCL (March 17)
-- Yunus Musah (Valencia; Spain La Liga) - 72 minutes in 1-0 win at Elche (March 19)
-- Erik Palmer-Brown (Troyes; French Ligue 1) - 90 minutes in 1-1 draw at Saint-Etienne (March 18)
-- Kevin Paredes (Wolfsburg; Bundesliga) - Not in 18, DNP in 2-0 loss vs. Bayer Leverkusen (March 20)
-- Jordan Pefok (Young Boys; Swiss Super League) - 72 minutes in 2-1 loss vs. FC Zurich (March 19)
-- Ricardo Pepi (Augsburg; Bundesliga) - In 18, DNP in 3-2 loss at Stuttgart (March 19)
-- Christian Pulisic (Chelsea; English Premier League) - 68 minutes in 2-0 win at Middlesbrough in F.A. Cup (March 19); 74 minutes, GOAL, in 2-1 win at Lille in UCL (March 16)
-- Tim Ream (Fulham; English Championship) - 90 minutes in 1-0 loss at West Bromwich Albion (March 15)
-- Gio Reyna (Borussia Dortmund; Bundesliga) - 90 minutes in 1-1 draw at FC Cologne (March 20); 21 minutes, ASSIST, as a substitute in 1-0 win at Mainz (March 16)
-- Bryan Reynolds (Kortrijk; Belgian Pro League) - In 18, DNP in 1-0 loss vs. Standard Liege (March 20)
-- Antonee Robinson (Fulham; English Championship) - 90 minutes in 1-0 loss at West Bromwich Albion (March 15)
-- Miles Robinson (Atlanta United; MLS) - 90 minutes in 3-3 draw vs. CF Montreal (March 19)
-- Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders FC; MLS) - 88 minutes, ASSIST in 1-1 draw at Austin FC (March 20); 90 minutes in 1-1 draw at Club Leon in CCL (March 17)
-- James Sands (Rangers, Scottish Premiership) - 64 minutes in 2-1 win at Dundee (March 20); 21 minutes as a substitute in 2-1 loss at Red Star Belgrade in Europa League (March 17)
-- Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach; Bundesliga) - 90 minutes in 2-0 win vs. Hertha Berlin (March 18)
-- Gabriel Slonina (Chicago Fire; MLS) - 90 minutes in 3-1 win vs. Sporting Kansas City (March 19)
-- Zack Steffen (Manchester City; English Premier League) - 90 minutes in 4-1 win at Southampton in F.A. Cup (March 20)
-- Tanner Tessmann (Venezia; Italy Serie A) - In 18, DNP in 2-0 loss vs. Sampdoria (March 20); In 18, DNP in 1-0 loss at Lazio (March 14)
-- Sam Vines (Royal Antwerp; Belgian Pro League) – Not in 18, DNP in 1-0 loss vs. Zulte Waregem (March 19)
-- DeAndre Yedlin (Inter Miami CF; MLS) - 90 minutes in 3-1 loss at FC Cincinnati (March 19)
-- Jackson Yueill (San Jose Earthquakes; MLS) - 90 minutes in 1-0 loss at Minnesota United (March 19)
-- Tim Weah (Lille; French Ligue 1) - 64 minutes, RED CARD, in 1-0 win at Nantes (March 19); 32 minutes as a substitute in 2-1 loss vs. Chelsea in UCL (March 16)
-- Gyasi Zardes (Columbus Crew; MLS) - 30 minutes as a substitute in 1-1 draw at New York Red Bulls (March 20)
-- Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC; MLS) - 90 minutes, GOAL, in 2-1 loss at Real Salt Lake (March 19)