Evander Makes MLS History in Cincinnati's 6-2 Win

After falling behind early to a penalty kick, FC Cincinnati's Evander delivered a performance for the ages, etching his name into Major League Soccer's record books with an unforgettable night.

The Brazilian midfielder orchestrated a complete turnaround Saturday night at TQL Stadium, recording two goals and three assists in Cincinnati's 6-2 victory over Orlando City. With that five-contribution night, Evander became the first player in FC Cincinnati history to achieve the feat and just the ninth player to do so in MLS's 31-year history.

The evening started poorly for the home side. Orlando's Martin Ojeda converted a 14th-minute penalty to put the visitors ahead, and Cincinnati looked shaky through the opening stages.

But Evander sparked the comeback just before halftime. His perfectly placed corner kick found Kenji Mboma Dem in the 42nd minute for Cincinnati's MLS-leading 13th set piece goal of the season. Six minutes later, Evander finished a brilliant cross-field pass from Pavel Bucha to give Cincinnati a 2-1 halftime lead.

Orlando equalized early in the second half with a spectacular free kick from Ojeda. Cincinnati's response? Four unanswered goals in 29 minutes, with Evander involved in three of them.

The Ripple Effect

Evander's historic night lifted more than just his team. Teammate Pavel Bucha strengthened his case for Czechia's World Cup roster with an assist and a secondary assist, awaiting final selection after their May 31st friendly. Head coach Pat Noonan tied Seattle's Brian Schmetzer for the fastest to 75 wins in MLS history, though he quickly deflected praise afterward: "The individual stuff is a credit to the people you work with. I want the trophies."

The victory sends Cincinnati into their World Cup break on a high note after a bumpy start to the season. All 25,513 fans at the sold-out stadium witnessed history, watching their team score six goals in a single match while their star player delivered the kind of performance that reminds everyone why soccer can be so magical.

For a club that had struggled with consistency earlier in the year, Saturday night proved what's possible when everything clicks at the right moment.