FC Cincinnati’s Brazilian midfielder and MLS All-Star Evander put his name on the marquee Wednesday night in Charlotte, North Carolina, securing the game-winning goal in the MLS All-Stars conquest of the Liga MX All-Stars – defeating the best of the Mexican league’s stars by a score of 4-3.
The All-Star Game, played at Bank of America Stadium, the home of Charlotte FC, closed a week's worth of festivities and added another memorable moment for Evander in his third selection to the game in as many years.
After coming on at halftime as part of a large shift of players, the Brazilian midfield maestro made his mark on the game quickly by linking up with teammates and helping the MLS All-Stars take control of the flow of the game. Wearing the number 19 for the match, Evander was placed in an advanced position by MLS and Charlotte FC Head Coach Dean Smith, appearing to operate in the middle of a 4-3-3 formation.
After a few early chances from the MLS All-Stars were thwarted, it was Evander who eventually broke through for the side in the 55’.
Receiving a last-minute poke of a pass from a falling Sam Surridge, the FC Cincinnati star took a combination of quick touches in crowded space to open himself up to the net. He then uncorked a perfectly placed finesse shot that curled just so around the Liga MX goalkeeper and into the net to score, giving the MLS All-Stars a 4-2 lead.
With the goal, Evander became the first FC Cincinnati player in club history to score in an MLS All-Star Game.
“It feels amazing, especially being in this event and being among all the best players in the league to put your name on the sheet and get a goal,” Evander said after the All-Star Game. “It’s just such a special night and a memorable event.”
“It's a great finish from him,” Nashville SC forward Sam Surridge said of the goal his assist came from. “It’s great to play with other great players and people like Evander. It's fantastic.”
Evander’s 45 minutes on the pitch saw him help his side see out a victory over Liga MX for the second year in a row, and, with the Mexican squad scoring to bring the score to 4-3 in the late moments of the match, the FC Cincinnati man’s goal became the game-winner, putting Evander’s name down in the history of MLS All-Star games.
The All-Star Game is more often remembered for the moments and connections built on the field rather than the final score tally. Evander’s goal may make it more memorable for FC Cincinnati fans. Still, for fans across the league, it is more likely they are going to remember Evander for the relationships shared with guys on the field.
Evander had a budding friendship with LAFC star Son Hueng-min, and on the pitch in this All-Star game had a connection with Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Thomas Müller. The duo of Evander and Müller spent most of the second half together lobbing passes back and forth to each other, hoping to create a moment the fans would remember.
“I was just every time trying to get him the ball,” Evander said, chuckling. “We were both just trying to make a cool moment. Those are the moments you never forget. You may just get it once in your life, so you have to try and enjoy it all as much as you can.”
“It’s nice to be back together, outside the pitch and on the pitch. We just talk about life,” San Diego FC’s Anders Dreyer said of playing with former teammate/current friend Evander. The duo was once teammates at FC Midtjylland in Denmark,, where they played over 80 matches together and won the Danish SuperLiga and two Danish Cups between 2018 and 2022, and have remained close ever since.
“That’s something that this event can do,” Dreyer continued. "It can bring good football people together.”
The FC Cincinnati midfield All-Star quickly departed Bank of America Stadium on Wednesday night after the match to catch a flight back to Cincinnati and be ready for training with his squad in the morning ahead of a weekend match with San Jose Earthquakes.
With a goal in his back pocket, some new friends' numbers in his Rolodex, and a crown earned in the Skills Challenge again, Evander had a starring weekend amongst stars, but the focus now turns back to The Orange and Blue and the work there is to do.
“This was a moment for him to enjoy that opportunity, a well-deserved opportunity with the All-Star festivities,” FC Cincinnati Head Coach Pat Noonan said Thursday after Evander had already returned to training that morning. “I told him he represented the club in a really good way. It was nice to see with the skills challenge, him having an opportunity to break his own record, and then Müller's when he was able to surpass what he originally did. I know the family enjoyed that as well. Then having the deciding goal yesterday, it's not a surprise to any of us, but it's still nice to see the contributions. I know he really enjoyed the opportunity to meet and be around those players that he admires and got to connect with.”
“After a tough game last weekend…we need to give a win to the fans at home,” Evander said as he was leaving Bank of America Stadium. “(I) need to get back and prepare for that.”
