Evander gave his first multi-goal performance for his new club, but FC Cincinnati was forced to settle for a 2-2 draw after Atlanta United levelled through a late own-goal on Saturday.
Evander scored twice in the space of five minutes after the midpoint of the second half to rally Cincinnati (2-2-1, 7 points) into the lead.
But Saba Lobjanidze’s late outswinging cross from the right caused Cincy defender Alvas Powell to turn the ball into his own goal in the 88th minute.
Powell was playing in a makeshift back line after center back Nick Hagglund exited at halftime with an injury. His fellow central defenders Matt Miazga (knee surgery) and Miles Robinson (illness) were also out.
Emmanuel Latte Lath scored his fourth goal of the season earlier in the second half for Atlanta (1-2-2, 5 points), which earned its first point away from home and became the first team to take a point at Cincinnati.
The visitors earned their result despite having eight players away on international duty.
Once Latte Lath put Atlanta in front in the 50th minute, Evander looked most likely to pull Cincinnati back, with striker Kevin Denkey also away with his national team.
Evander’s first came from a 70th-minute free kick he earned himself when he induced Matthew Edwards into a very late challenge about six yards beyond the top of the penalty area.
Evander took a right-footed shot that appeared to be aimed for the bottom left corner but then deflected off a player in Atlanta’s defensive wall and wrong-footed goalkeeper Brad Guzan on its way across the line.
Five minutes later, Pavel Bucha forced a turnover in Atlanta’s own end, then drove toward the goal before playing the ball to Evander on his left. The Brazilian still had a lot to do, composing himself to poke an off-balance finish back across his body inside the right post.
But Cincinnati couldn’t see out the victory when Lobjanidze got free down the right 13 minutes later.
With multiple defenders retreating, Lobjanidze sent a speculative cross toward the near post. Powell slid to try and clear it out for a corner kick, instead guiding it straight past his goalkeeper Roman Celentano and inside the near post.
–Field Level Media
