Evander to the rescue: FC Cincinnati's star man delivers | OneFootball

By Ben Wright

Now that's what FC Cincinnati fans expect from Evander.

The two-time MLS Best XI and All-Star selection helped his side salvage a 3-3 home draw with Chicago Fire FC in Matchday 8's Walmart Saturday Showdown.

With Cincy down 3-1 in the 79th minute, Evander buried his penalty kick before causing Dje D’Avilla's own goal seven minutes later to earn a point for the hosts at TQL Stadium.

Were the Brazilian's late heroics a sign of things to come? 

"When you're pushing, pushing, pushing, now there's more expectation to finish a play from the penalty spot," said Cincy head coach Pat Noonan. "I was happy to see the first one go in, and he had a strong game. He was influential in our attack.

"I thought he worked hard defensively, and hopefully this gets him going in the way of production."

MLS royalty

Evander, who joined the league in 2023 with the Portland Timbers, has been a Landon Donovan MLS MVP finalist for the last two years.

Last season, his first in Cincinnati following an MLS-record trade with the Timbers worth $12 million, Evander finished with 33 goal contributions, including a career-high 18 goals.

With Saturday's penalty, Evander reached 43 regular-season goals – tying Welton for most goals scored in MLS by a Brazilian-born player.

For a Cincinnati team built around Evander as the centerpiece, they'll hope the floodgates are open.

"There's been plenty of good moments," said Noonan. "It's just the final piece that is missing."

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