Sebastian Ferreira apologizes to Houston Dynamo fans for failing to make playoffs in bittersweet first year

With a brace against Nashville SC, Houston Dynamo FC forward Sebastian Ferreira surpassed the club's record for goals during a player's first season. His 12th goal of the year edged him past the likes of Dwayne De Rosario, Brian Ching and Fafa Picault.

It wasn't exactly the high mark the 24-year-old was expecting to settle for after stating his intentions to contest for the league-wide Golden Boot earlier this year. More importantly, neither Sebas nor the Dynamo will not be competing in the MLS Cup Playoffs, and, for that, he issued an apology to the club's supporters.

"I am always grateful to the fans who support us in the good and the bad," Ferreira said after Sunday's match. "I also want to give them a message that, though we may not have done well this season, we still felt the support of all of them ... I just want to thank them and ask for their support, which was always noticeable in every field, in every stadium we went to play. They were always present and an apology for the season we had. We are going to work so that the following season will be better and give them back, with joy, the efforts they make to be able to go to all the stadiums."

The Dynamo's first visit to Nashville's GEODIS Park, which opened its doors this year, was one of the games that featured a larger contingent of Houston away fans this season. Members of El Batallón supporters group were among those who made the 1,500-mile round-trip drive to and from the Music City.

A big group of fans, most notably from The Surge supporters group, attended the Dynamo's match at Colorado Rapids on August 20. On that occasion, Ferreira rescued a draw in the final play of the game. 

"In many games, we were able to score nice goals and nice plays, but this league is very long, you have to maintain that," said Ferreira. "In many games, we entered a hole that we could not get out of, where we had several games in a row that we lost. I think we get desperate very quickly and that's what got us to where we are today, which is being out of the playoffs."

With his double in Nashville, Ferreira ended a scoring drought that spanned four MLS matches. His previous goal came from the penalty spot against LAFC and his previous goal in the run of play came all the way back in that August match in Colorado.

As the club's most expensive signing prior to the arrival of Hector Herrera, Ferreira was brought in during preseason to be a prolific goalscorer for the club. Whether it is his adjustment to MLS or the lack of better support around him, the Paraguayan has struggled to have scoring opportunities, and only on three occasions has he scored in consecutive matches.

"I would have liked to have had more scoring chances," Ferreira said of his first MLS season. "I will try to close the season in the best way, now at home, score more goals, and then I will think about what the following year will be because I want to continue scoring goals. I want to be important for the team. From wherever I have to be, I always want to help the team."

According to the sports reference website FBREF, Ferreira has averaged less than five touches per 90 minutes across his 30 MLS appearances — a statistic that places him in the 22nd percentile among players with at least 2,231 minutes played. The Houston Dynamo has 18 shots-creating actions per ninety minutes, better than only four teams in the league.

Stats don't tell the entire story, however, as playoff-bound rival FC Dallas shares the same 18 SCA per 90 and their Ferreira, U.S. men's national team forward Jesus, has had similarly limited opportunities in the box. Of course, the FCD Ferreira is complemented by USMNT winger Paul Arriola and Designated Player Alan Velasco while Houston's Ferreira has seen a revolving door of wingers throughout the year.

"I am very happy because I see that the efforts that one makes day-to-day bear fruit," Ferreira said of setting a new club record for goals by a newcomer. "I want to continue scoring goals for the club. I want to be a historic player for the club, to be the [all-time] top scorer. That is the objective I have. I know it's not easy, I have to work every day. This is [a long road] and I hope I can remain in the history of the club, positively, always."

The striker from Asunción, Paraguay has shown his quality with strikes worthy of winning the MLS Goal of the Year award. With the right supporting cast around him, it would not be a surprise to see him challenge for the scoring title in future seasons.

A challenge for Houston Dynamo FC's offseason will be to find those pieces to complement a player that is locked in until the 2025 season and the upcoming coaching hire will surely also has to take into consideration how to unleash the club's talented number nine. The Dynamo will end the season against the LA Galaxy as part of MLS's Decision Day slate of matches before the Houston club begins its preparations for the 2023 season.

"Play well, with our fans, with our people," Ferreira said of the final regular season match. "The first objective was not achieved, but there is no other choice but to end with a victory, with our fans, with our people and give them back something, a little bit at least, of what they gave us the whole season."