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Joao Plata

Joao Plata
Joao Plata5-25-13 Fire-171-1.JPG
Plata playing against the Chicago Fire on May 25, 2013
Personal information
Full name Joao Jimmy Plata Cotera
Date of birth (1992-03-01) March 1, 1992 (age 25)
Place of birth Guayaquil, Ecuador
Height 1.57 m (5 ft 2 in)
Playing position Forward, Winger
Club information
Current team
Real Salt Lake
Number 10
Youth career
2004–2007 Barcelona SC
2007–2009 Alfaro Moreno
2009–2010 LDU Quito
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2010–2011 LDU Quito 7 (1)
2011 Toronto FC (loan) 26 (3)
2012 Toronto FC 10 (0)
2012 LDU Quito (loan) 13 (1)
2013– Real Salt Lake 104 (30)
National team
2011–2014 Ecuador 4 (2)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of November 16, 2016.
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of October 14, 2014

Joao Jimmy Plata Cotera (Spanish pronunciation: [joˈau ˈplata]; born March 1, 1992) is an Ecuadorian footballer who plays for Real Salt Lake in Major League Soccer as a forward.

Plata began his career in the youth ranks of hometown club Barcelona before joining the Alfaro Moreno Academia in Guayaquil in 2009. After impressing at Alfaro Moreno he joined the youth ranks of LDU Quito.

Plata impressed Liga coach Edgardo Bauza and was called up to the senior side during the Second Stage of the 2010 Serie A season. On August 22, 2010 Plata made his professional debut for LDU Quito at Estadio Casa Blanca in a 1–0 victory over Olmedo. His debut was considered very promising and Plata became a fixture for the rest of the season.

On September 18, 2010 Plata scored his first professional goal in a 1–0 victory over ESPOLI. This important goal helped Liga consolidate their position at the top of the table. Plata ended the season appearing in 7 league matches (starting 5) and scoring one goal as Liga captured the Second Stage of the 2010 Serie A and then defeated Emelec to be declared national champion for the 10th time in the club's history.

At the conclusion of the 2010 season, in order to continue his development, Plata was loaned to Major League Soccer and was selected by Toronto FC with the No. 49 pick in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft. Toronto FC signed Plata on March 24, 2011. On April 2 Plata made his debut for Toronto as a second half sub for Alen Stevanović, in a 1–1 home draw against Chivas USA. On April 27 Plata made his first start for Toronto and provided two assists in a 3–0 away win against FC Edmonton in the first leg of the Canadian Championship. For the second leg on May 4, Plata again made the starting line-up and provided an assist as well as receiving Man of the Match honours in a 1–0 home win, giving Toronto a 4–0 aggregate victory over FC Edmonton to advance to the Canadian Championship final. Plata got his first MLS goal in a 2–1 victory over Houston Dynamo the goal was a well taken penalty and he later went on to set up the second for Maicon Santos, his performance earned him MLS player of the week. On July 2 Plata scored a crucial goal against Vancouver Whitecaps FC helping seal Toronto's third consecutive Canadian Championship, earning the team a berth in the CONCACAF Champions League. Plata was awarded the George Gross Memorial Trophy as the tournament's best player. On July 27 Plata made his Champions League debut against Real Esteli F.C. coming on for Gianluca Zavarise in the 49th minute, Plata led his team to a 2–1 home victory scoring both goals. Plata's success continued in the champions league scoring two goals in a crucial match-up against FC Dallas on October 18 in the final group stage game, with a 3–0 away victory it advanced Toronto to its first ever quarter final appearance.


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