Evander<\/a> made his impact felt in his return to Portland<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Playing against his former club for the first time since his MLS-record trade<\/a> to FC Cincinnati<\/a>, the All-Star Brazilian midfielder unleashed a beautiful curling strike in the first half \u2013 setting off boos from a hostile Providence Park crowd in an eventual 3-2 win<\/a> for the Orange & Blue.<\/p>\n Evander, who left Portland under less-than-friendly circumstances<\/a>, gave it right back to the fans, gesturing for them to get even louder by holding his hand to his ear during his goal celebration in front of the Timbers Army.<\/p>\n \u201cHe really grew into the game and had an impact on two of the goals, which is nothing new,\u201d head coach Pat Noonan said post-match.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s been what he\u2019s been all year for us: a difference maker.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Facing the ire of the Portland faithful, Evander was heavily involved as Cincinnati built a comfortable first-half lead. His dummy unlocked space for K\u00e9vin Denkey<\/a> on FCC\u2019s first goal, and he provided an assist to Pavel Bucha<\/a> before his 36th-minute golazo.<\/p>\n Under hostile circumstances, he played off the tense energy in the stadium as the visitors held off a Kevin Kelsy<\/a>-inspired Timbers rally to escape with all three points.<\/p>\n \u201cIt shows that we\u2019re together as a team,\u201d Evander said. \u201cWe\u2019re a team. They felt the same way that I did.<\/p>\n “Even before the start of the game, we\u2019re together on the pitch and they\u2019re like, \u2018Let\u2019s do this for Evander.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Evander makes it 3 with a rocket! ???? pic.twitter.com\/enE3lrpU6H<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 FC Cincinnati (@fccincinnati) August 17, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n The 27-year-old continues to stake a compelling case for the Landon Donovan MLS MVP award, with 16g\/9a this season.<\/p>\n That didn’t impress Portland fans, who witnessed Evander produce 15g\/19a last year for the Timbers as the Brazilian finished third in the 2024 MVP race won by Inter Miami CF<\/a> superstar Lionel Messi<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cI wasn\u2019t expecting them to cheer, but the song was a little too much for me,\u201d Evander said afterward, referring to a pre-game chant from supporters groups.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m one hundred percent focused on what I\u2019m doing on the pitch. I never had a problem with them. I didn\u2019t do anything wrong with the players and the fans here.<\/p>\n “They can do whatever they want,” Evander added. “I was just focused on trying to represent Cincinnati because that\u2019s the team I play for now.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Ice cold celebration from Evander in Portland ???? pic.twitter.com\/IDEqrLIvXk<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Major League Soccer (@MLS) August 17, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n Noonan noted that the intense atmosphere at Providence Park can serve as a test for his players going forward.<\/p>\n \u201cThat was a playoff environment,\u201d he told reporters. \u201cCredit to the fans tonight. It makes the game more enjoyable and more meaningful, because they were in it from the beginning.<\/p>\n “The second half was what a road game feels like in a great environment in the playoffs. It\u2019s a good experience for us.\u201d<\/p>\n Making the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs is just one objective for Cincinnati, who moved into first place in the Eastern Conference, one point ahead of the Philadelphia Union.<\/a><\/p>\n The Orange & Blue could also potentially end Matchday 29 atop the Supporters’ Shield standings.<\/p>\n \u201cWe know what we\u2019re going for,\u201d Evander said. \u201cOur focus is to win these games and keep up the run.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n <\/main><\/p>\n<\/div>\nTense reunion<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
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Cincy’s MVP man<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
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Supporters’ Shield push<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
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