Jesus Ferreira makes USMNT history with consecutive hat tricks
Jesus Ferreira made a bit of history for the United States men’s national team on Sunday night as they advanced to the knockout stage of the Gold Cup.
The American striker scored three goals in the first half against Trinidad and Tobago, becoming the first USMNT player to score consecutive hat tricks in international play, according to ESPN.
Ferreira scored three goals Wednesday — the second international hat trick of his career — in the United States’ win over St. Kitts and Nevis.
Ferreira scored his first goal of the night from inside the box off a pass from DeJuan Jones in the 14th minute.
The 22-year-old found the back of the net for a second time in the 38h minute, when he scored off his own rebound to make it a 2-0 game.
His third of the evening came on a penalty kick in stoppage time as he was able to fool the goaltender for the goal to put the United States up, 3-0.
![Jesus Ferreira celebrates a goal for the USMNT against Trinidad and Tobago on Sunday.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/07/usmnt-main-3.jpg?w=1024)
The United States won the game, 6-0.
“I’m happy. I’m excited,” Ferreira told ESPN after the game. “Obviously, this is a team objective. I wouldn’t be able to score goals without my teammates putting me in situations where I can score goals.
“So, from the beginning, we knew that this game was going to be intense. We have to bring the intensity, we have to be the team that can set the tempo and I think we did that.”
Sunday marked the third time in his USMNT career that he has scored a hat trick, tying him for the most in a career with American soccer star Landon Donovan.
Ferreira also has 14 career international goals since he made his national team debut in 2020.
![Jesus Ferreira greets his teammates after a goal against Trinidad and Tobago during the first half of a CONCACAF Gold Cup.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/07/usmnt-main-4.jpg?w=1024)
![Jesus Ferreira also scored three goals in the USMNT's game against St. Kitts and Nevis on Wednesday.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/07/usmnt-main-1.jpg?w=1024)
The herculean effort by Ferreira helped lift the United States to the win and pushed them through to the quarterfinals of the Gold Cup by winning Group A on goal difference over Jamaica.
The U.S. will face Canada, Guatemala or Guadeloupe on July 9 at Cincinnati.