Trio becomes first group of teammates to each score at least 14 goals in a single season for the same team in MLS history
PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland Timbers registered their 12th win of the season on Wednesday night, defeating the Los Angeles Galaxy 4-2 at a raucous Providence Park. The victory over the Western Conference leaders featured an outstanding Evander performance where he registered two goals and an assist, a Jonathan Rodríguez double contribution with a goal and an assist, as well as Felipe Mora putting up a goal and an assist evening of his own.
With all three players getting on the scoresheet, the trio became the first group of teammates to each score at least 14 goals in a single season for the same team in MLS history. Their contributions account for 70% of Portland's goals in the 2024 campaign, helping the team reach 60 goals in a season for just the third time in club history. The 60 goals are the most scored in the Western Conference and second most in MLS behind Inter Miami CF (67) as of their victory over LA.
For Timbers head coach Phil Neville, having his three Designated Players (DP) clicking was a key to beating the first place team in the conference.
"We're just pleased we had the best DPs on the pitch tonight," he said postgame. "This league is all about your DPs winning your games of football. We're lucky that we have three DPs that are winning those games."
Evander's two-goal performance paced the team with his second tally being the game-winner. Happy about the win, the Brazilian was modest about the historic moment.
"It feels amazing knowing we broke the [MLS] record," he said. "Of course we won't think too much about it and just want to do the best for the team,"
Evander, whose assist on Rodríguez's 18th minute opening goal also added, "It's all about the quality of my teammates. With [Rodríguez and Mora's] contributions, they're having a great moment, of course, and with the quality of my teammates to put the ball in the net, it helps me with the assists as well."
With a combined 42 goals scored, Evander, Rodríguez, and Mora have scored more goals than 10 MLS teams this season. The impressive barrage of goals by the three players is a testament to the cohesion the club has experienced from the early stages of the campaign.
A connection that has flourished from the get-go, Portland's first goal of the night highlighted the reason why the Uruguayan international Rodríguez was recuited to the Green & Gold in the first place: his knack for being in the right place at the right time.
"I think that's one of the connections that me and the players in front already have," said Evander about his relationship with Rodríguez. "[When Rodríguez first arrived,] we had a really good connection fast. He knows when I have the ball, I can put it into space. I knew he was going to run there, I aimed to put the ball in his face and of course with Jona's quality to put the ball [away], it makes my job easier."
For Mora, the longest-tenured Timber of the three, 2024 has been a comeback year for the Chilean striker. Following a tough 2023 season where his appearances were limited to 15 due to recovery from injury and he was only able to contribute six goals, the 31-year-old has regained his goalscoring prowess by more than doubling it this year – 14, a career high – with a handful of matches still left to play.
"I think the unsung hero is Felipe Mora," said coach Neville about the striker. "To score the goals that he does, he has scored important goals."
Evander agreed. "When [Mora] has the opportunity, he's not going to miss it so I was really happy for him," he said.
Along with being in a tie for the MLS lead in assists, Evander's 32 goal contributions (14g, 18a) are currently tops in the league and is tied for a club record with Diego Valeri's 2017 Landon Donovan MLS MVP campaign for most in a single season. It are accomplishments like these that have put the midfielder in the conversation for postseason accolades.
"I think in Evander, we have someone who's playing at an MVP level," Neville said. "I've said it from probably in the first month of the season, I think I said he's the best number 10 in the league. People laughed at me, people questioned me, people thought I was joking. But I think what we see in training, what I see every day, what I saw when I tried to sign him for Inter Miami, what I saw when he came to Portland, is someone that is an incredible footballer with an incredible talent, and we're just proud to have him in our organization.
"He's fighting like mad for the team."
With five matches remaining in the 2024 season and opportunities to further cement themselves in the Western Conference postseason picture, Evander takes in the praise and remembers the goal still at hand.
"it's not just me, it's the whole group, and we deserve what we are going through," he said. "My main focus is to put Portland in the playoffs again. I think if we play with confidence and quality, then we can continue to score again and again."
