Timbers All-Star Evander starts and plays first 26 minutes as MLS falls 4-1 to Liga MX All-Stars
Portland Timbers midfielder Evander was part of the starting XI in the 2024 MLS All-Star Game, presented by Target this evening at Lower.com Field in Columbus.
Beginning the match alongside other league greats such as FC Cincinnati's Lucho Acosta, Columbus Crew's Cucho Hernandez, Houston Dynamo's Hector Herrera and Inter Miami's Sergio Busquets, Evander played the first 26 minutes of the match on the wing in a 4-2-3-1 formation that saw MLS fall to the Liga MX All-Stars 4-1.
The Brazilian was busy in his appearance, nearly helping MLS to an early lead when he combined with Acosta on the left channel. Sprung by a deft throughball from the Cincy star, Evander dribbled into the box before sending a tantalizing cross along the turf towards the back post that the Liga MX defense scrambled to knock out for a corner.
Evander was on the field as MLS's Diego Rossi crossed into his Columbus teammate Hernandez to score the home side's lone goal in the 17th minute with the Portland man lurking on the back post and first to congratulate the goalscorer on his tally.
Though his side lost, Evander relished the entire All-Star Week experience which saw him participate in the MLS All-Star Skills Challenge, cheering on Timbers Academy forward Max Eisenberg in the MLS NEXT All-Star Game and meeting with Portland's players at the Special Olympics Unified Sports® MLS All-Star Game that included Special Olympics Oregon athlete Niko Brescia and Unified partner Alanah Butler Coronado.
"First time here, and I've been enjoying it a lot," he told MLS Season Pass reporter Jillian Sakovits on the sideline, "Being around a lot of good players in the league. It was so great to be here to represent Portland Timbers as well. It was good."
When asked the hypothetical question of who among his many spectacular All-Star colleagues he wished he could bring back with him to the Rose City as a new teammate, Evander was thoughtful in his response.
"There’s so many. I don’t know…maybe [Sergio] Busquets," he laughed. "I’m a big fan of his."
Evander is having a terrific season for Portland which has him second in the league in assists (13) – tied with Miami's Lionel Messi – to go along with 11 goals.
With All-Star festivities finished, Evander and the Timbers will next turn their attention to the 2024 Leagues Cup which gets under way at Providence Park on Sunday against Liga MX's Club León (7:30pm PT, TICKETS, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV).
