How Sounders' Jesús Ferreira quickly made connections in Seattle

RENTON - The rain is gentler than expected and it's not so cold in Seattle. Those were some concerns Jesús Ferreira had when he signed with the Sounders last year.

Agreeing to a contract through 2027, with options that could keep Ferreira with the club until 2029, marked the forward's first move as an adult. He was raised amid thunderstorms, tornado warnings and suffocating heat in Frisco, Texas, as he followed his father's footsteps in starring for FC Dallas.

David Ferreira was a 2010 MLS MVP, while Jesús left as Dallas' second all-time leading goal scorer (55) with 34 assists in 181 matches, across all competitions.

"It's been OK," Ferreira, 25, said of adjusting to his new city. "Getting to know more people makes it a lot easier, so I'm still trying to meet people outside of the club and the team. Sometimes it's good to have friends that are outside of the team, outside of the club to not really talk about soccer and just talk about life."

Making connections has been a theme for Ferreira with the Sounders.

In his debut, despite joining the club with a nagging hamstring injury, he played in a team-leading 48 matches (40 starts), netting five goals with 12 assists, through all competitions. This season he leads the team with five assists, including one against Vancouver in the CONCACAF Champions Cup Round of 16.

"It's interesting because with Dallas, he was a goal scorer who could provide an assist and here, he's an assist-leader who can score goals," Sounders broadcaster Danny Jackson said.

In the starting lineup, Ferreira is on the right wing, but Sounders coach Brian Schmetzer doesn't utilize him as a typical winger. Instead, Ferreira artfully plays in the pockets on the right side of the field, drifting in and out with an uncanny vision to thread a pass to teammates crashing the box.

Last season, Ferreira helped the team score a club-record 90 goals. This year, the Sounders are outscoring opponents 10-5, but last week's CCC quarterfinal loss to Liga MX side Tigres UANL was the first time they were shutout.

Ferreira didn't start the match. He entered in the 71st minute and was part of a breakdown that ceded an own goal off a corner kick in the 76th minute of the eventual 2-0 loss.

The Sounders (2-1) emphasized defending set pieces during preseason training camp after finding that led to multiple losses last year, particularly against Minnesota United in the best-of-three playoff opening round exit.

"I take accountability for not finishing some of my chances," Sounders left winger Paul Rothrock said of missing three attempts. The decisive second leg against Tigres is Wednesday at Lumen Field. "I'm confident it's going to be a different story at home."

One of Ferreira's finest assists this season was to Rothrock in a 1-0 win against San Jose in March. From the center circle, Ferreira eyed an angle to get the ball through a pair of Quakes defenders to Rothrock, who'd yet to make his run toward goal.

The perfectly weighted pass was capped with a right-footed finish in the 20th minute.

"It's a trial-and-error thing," Ferreira said. "Maybe in previous games I try the same pass and know that I can make it, and it doesn't work out. In a different game it does. It's knowing what passes I'm capable of doing and knowing who's on the field."

Training is essential for Ferreira. He's riskier in the sessions and learns the tendencies of his teammates. Of the attackers, Rothrock and winger Paul Arriola, a former teammate in Dallas, are good on the run. Sounders forward Jordan Morris can get behind, while forward Osaze De Rosario is good in the air and holding the ball. Danny Musovski, who led the Sounders in scoring last year (18 goals), is a poacher who can work in tight spaces.

But there's still the needed connections off the field that would make Ferreira feel completely settled with his new club.

Ferreira, whose daughter will celebrate her first birthday in June, is immersed in family life. He still owns his ranch in Texas but hasn't been able to visit since moving to Washington. He has visited the Sammamish Animal Sanctuary in hopes of building relationships there.

"They're holding on," Ferreira said of his three cows and flock of chickens. "I want to get into more animal work, going to adoption centers and giving back. I have a connection with Sammamish Animal Sanctuary, they do volunteer work and it's a beautiful place."

For now, it's enjoying the spring rain and assisting in helping the Sounders win.

It's really nice, you can open the window, get that fresh air and it's calming," Ferreira said of rainy days in his new home. "I've been enjoying it here.

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