Evander scored a goal from outside the box Saturday night. Moments like that have become common for the All-Star midfielder.
Chicago Fire FC should have known better.
After wingback Luca Orellano switched play on a ball to Evander, the midfielder controlled it and charged at their back line. As the Fire failed to apply pressure, the 27-year-old eventually found himself within striking distance just outside the box.
From there, Evander curled the ball past goalkeeper Jeffrey Gal to deliver FC Cincinnati an unlikely 1-0 lead in the 19th minute of their 2-1 victory over the Fire on Saturday, July 5.
Goals like those are uncommon for many players, but for Evander they have become regular. According to Sportec Solutions via FC Cincinnati, he leads MLS in goals outside of the box, now seven, and goals outside the penalty area since 2023, now 15. The next closest for the latter statistic, Lionel Messi and Charles Gil, each have just eight scores from such distance.
"He's a talented player," coach Pat Noonan said of Evander. "He's not one-dimensional. There are games where he is productive on certain areas of the field for certain reasons depending on how teams play and structures defensively. He's able to adjust."
For FC Cincinnati’s second goal, Evander curled a pass onto Kévin Denkey’s feet for a tap-in finish to log his eighth assist to go along with his tied for team-leading 12 goals this season.
Evander has delivered in big moments for FC Cincinnati
The Orange and Blue have relied on Evander, who joined the club as the largest cash-for-player trade in league history, in critical moments this season, and he has produced special moments.
Just last week, he scored four goals on statistically just 0.9 expected goals in wins against CF Montréal and Orlando City SC. He also had an assist.
In March, Evander scored an equalizing free kick, which he also leads the league in with three, in a 2-1 win over Nashville SC.
And also that month, he finished a free kick to draw level with Atlanta United FC in an eventual 2-2 draw.
"There's a lot of influences as to why he's been so impactful recently," Noonan said. "His teammates understand how and where to find him (and) the movement off the ball."
Describing Evander earlier this week, Noonan praised the All-Star’s soccer IQ and progression throughout the season. He said the Brazilian has impacted matches closer to goal and done hard work defensively.
Regarding those magical moments, Noonan said they happen in training. But he added the Brazilian's best abilities often occur in-game, as seen Saturday.
“Typically you just look at whoever’s closest to you on the training field, and just (say), ‘did we just see that,’” Noonan said.
FC Cincinnati, in the thick of the Supporters’ Shield race, could continue to rely on the talents of their leading scorer when they play their rivals, the Columbus Crew, on July 12 and Lionel Messi-led Inter Miami CF on July 16.
But Noonan said Evander could produce even more.
"There's more moments out there for him to have an impact," he said.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Magical moments have become regular for Evander
Category: General Sports
