NEW YORK (Monday, May 15, 2023) – Portland Timbers midfielder Evander was voted the Major League Soccer Player of the Matchday presented by Continental Tire for Matchday 12 of the 2023 MLS season.
Evander produced his first career MLS brace, including the game-winning goal in the club’s 3-1 victory against Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Saturday, May 13. With his brace, the Brazilian midfielder became the first player in Timbers history to produce a multi-goal game following a multi-assist game, which he had accomplished on Matchday 11 versus Austin FC. Evander currently leads the club in goals (four) and goal contributions (six) this season, despite only starting seven of the 12 matches. He is the first Timbers player with multiple goal contributions in consecutive games since Sebastián Blanco from November 3-7, 2021.
After Franck Boli scored the fastest goal in MLS this season (one minute and 19 seconds), Evander added the second of the match in the 18th minute. The goal came from a fantastic one-touch passing sequence between the Timbers’ Santiago Moreno and Juan Mosquera, who carved their way through the Vancouver defense before Mosquera found Evander and he volleyed his effort in from short range (Watch Here). Despite the away side pulling a goal back, the Brazilian regained Portland’s two-goal advantage in the 54th minute with a moment of magic, as he spun past a Whitecaps defender and struck a perfectly driven shot from 20 yards out into the side netting (Watch Here).
Evander is the first Timbers player to win MLS Player of the Matchday presented by Continental Tire since Sebastián Blanco did so on Matchday 11 in 2022. Evander is the first Brazilian and the only first-year player to earn the honor in 2023. He is also the first Timbers player be named Player of the Matchday in his debut season since Fanendo Adi in 2014 (Matchday 14)
Portland will look to extend their unbeaten run to four games when they travel to face Real Salt Lake at America First Field on Matchday 13 on Wednesday, May 17 (9:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass).
The MLS Player of the Matchday presented by Continental Tire is selected each matchday of the regular season through both media and fan voting in a process conducted by MLS Communications. A panel of journalists from the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR) comprises 75 percent of the vote, while a Twitter fan vote represents the remaining 25 percent of voting. NASR consists of members of print, television, radio, and online media.
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