MLS MVP frontrunners, Evander and Lionel Messi, faced off July 16 at TQL Stadium. The FC Cincinnati star left with a stronger case for the award.
When Evander was asked about the MVP race last week, he said he was not focused on it.
Despite the FC Cincinnati midfielder being one of the frontrunners alongside Inter Miami CF’s Lionel Messi and San Diego FC’s Anders Dreyer, his message was clear.
If it happens, it happens.
“I want to put the team under success,” Evander said. “I want to win a title with the team. That's my main goal.”
Still, Evander added to his MVP case Wednesday as FC Cincinnati thrashed Inter Miami CF, while TQL Stadium directed boo’s towards Messi. The Brazilian Evander scored a brace, made 28-of-34 accurate passes and completed four passes into the final third.
While Messi completed six passes into the final third, he made just 30-of-42 accurate passes, had only six touches in the box and was dispossessed four times.
"Tonight, (Evander) was simple, and he was rewarded, and our team was rewarded," said coach Pat Noonan.
A slow start for the stars
It took a while for Evander to get going, though.
For much of the first half, FC Cincinnati seemed mellow with the ball, often pinging it across their backline and wingbacks while Inter Miami afforded them the space. The sides combined for just four shots on target in the period.
Still, a moment of brilliance from wingback Luca Orellano and a clever finish by forward Gerardo “Dado” Valenzuela, who started in place of the injured Kévin Denkey, delivered the home side an opener.
Evander fired a few of his signature long-range shots in the half, but largely failed to hit the target. Similarly, Messi had just a pair of chances late in the first 45 minutes, one being deflected off-target by defender Lukas Engel, and the other failing to pose a substantial threat to goalkeeper Roman Celentano.
A second-half eruption
However, less than five minutes into the second half, Evander finally found the goal he was hunting after he wiggled out of traffic with a touch that leaped into the air and slipped home a shot past goalkeeper Oscar Ustari.
Later in the period, the Brazilian rebounded Orellano's shot on goal to secure FC Cincinnati's third goal of the match.
A brace, just like that.
"(Evander is) an MVP caliber player, and he's a very important player for the group," said midfielder Brian Anunga. "Every day we're not just talking about it, he's showing it every single day. Everyone around the MLS can see that he's a top guy, and he should be considered as an MVP."
Noonan emphasized how Evander received the ball in positions where he could run to the goal. He praised how the Brazilian's feel for the game and the completion of simple tasks, especially on his second goal.
A simple rebound.
"When he's patient and plays the game in a simple way, he almost always has a big impact," Noonan said of Evander. "That's where maybe some of the struggle was, is trying too hard, too often, and then when it doesn't work out, the frustration can build."
Evander became the first player in FC Cincinnati history to score in five consecutive MLS games, while Messi's league-first five straight braces streak came to an end.
The Brazilian also tied the Argentine with 23 goal contributions this season, which is second in the league behind Dreyer's 26.
"Evander is unbelievable," said goalkeeper Roman Celentano. "He's been producing more and more, and he just looks like he's super comfortable out there."
While the match might have inched Evander closer to the MVP award, he still has 11 more matches to play, including another one against Messi’s Inter Miami in 10 days.
And the honor probably won’t be at the top of the FC Cincinnati star's mind when the Orange and Blue face Real Salt Lake July 19.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Evander bolsters MVP case in win over Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami CF
Category: General Sports
