In a thrilling showdown between the Portland Timbers and the LA Galaxy, it was a night to remember for Evander as he further solidified his case for the Landon Donovan MLS MVP honors. The Brazilian maestro notched two goals and an assist to lead his team to a 4-2 victory at Providence Park.
After the game, Portland head coach Phil Neville emphasized the impact of the Designated Players in matches between the two clubs. “The games between us and the Galaxy are going to be decided by the quality of the DPs. Tonight our DPs were better than their DPs,” Neville told reporters.
In addition to Evander’s stellar performance, Jonathan “Cabecita” Rodríguez also stood out with a goal and an assist of his own. Neville praised the Uruguayan forward, highlighting it as his best game in a Timbers jersey.
However, it was Evander who stole the show with his remarkable display on the field. With 14 goals and 18 assists, the Brazilian now sits level with reigning MLS MVP Luciano Acosta for most assists in the league, while also leading in overall goal contributions with 32.
“In Evander, we’ve got someone that’s playing at an MVP level,” Neville declared. “I’ve said it from probably the first month of the season: I think I said he’s the best No. 10 in the league. People laughed at me, people questioned me, people thought I was joking.”
It is clear that Evander’s impact on the Timbers goes beyond just statistics. His creativity, vision, and ability to influence games make him a standout player in the league. As the MVP race heats up, all eyes are on the Brazilian star to see if he can continue his incredible form and lead the Timbers to further success.
