Joao Plata Rumors & News

Real Salt Lake finished a three-game home stand with a win over Vancouver Whitecaps, with midfielders Javier Morales and Luis Gil grabbing the goals - both on assists from forward Joao Plata. The first goal was the product of Nick Rimando found a bursting Joao Plata on the right flank after Vancouver failed to reorganize after a missed free kick. Luis Gil made a run that started inside Rimando's box, and with Plata drawing two defenders on the right, Gil was allowed an unmarked run into the box. Plata's cross in left Gil with plenty to do, and the placement on his header gave Joe Canno...

Top three picks Joao Plata ... $7.0 ... Remarkably, Joao Plata hasn't gone up in price since arriving at the club and finding Saborio for two very vital goals. He's not rolling in points (only nine across the three weeks) but is Real Salt Lake's second-best forward in fantasy rankings. If you've got the money to spare, he could have a breakout season — and in Saborio's absence, someone will have to step up. Devon Sandoval ... $5.5 ... when he's come on, he's looked very good — not at all like a rookie. Perhaps it was his training with Real Salt Lake while still in college, but Sandoval...

Real Salt Lake started the season with a bit of revenge at Buck Shaw Stadium, defeating the San Jose Earthquakes 2-0 through a second-half Alvaro Saborio brace. The first goal came in the 71st minute when Kenny Mansally won the ball deep in RSL's half and handed the ball off to Joao Plata, who released the on-rushing Saborio with a fantastic lob. With his first touch, Saborio slotted the ball in at the near post, leaving San Jose goalkeeper Jon Busch with no opportunity to save. The second goal came shortly after the first, with Saborio the benefactor of a fine Kyle Beckerman pass in S...

There's always a lot to take away from preseason matches, and although there's some danger of taking away just a bit too much, let's go through some notes from Saturday's loss to Seattle. * * * The young players look surprisingly good. Now, this may well be because they're looking to impress in preseason action and win minutes, but players like John Stertzer, David Viana, Cole Grossman, Joao Plata, Carlos Salcedo — the list goes on — have shown quite well indeed. Goals from three of those (Stertzer, Grossman, Plata) are hardly coincidences. Ned Grabavoy isn't a typical top-of-the-diamo...

Preseason matches aren't always perfect learning opportunities, but this one certainly gave us some things to ponder. Let's talk about those. Last night's 2-2 draw against New York provided plenty to learn. First, we saw fantastic stuff from one Joao Plata, and while it was obviously not in a competitive setting, there's a lot to be encouraged about. His ability to pull away from defenders through top acceleration over short distances was vital in the creation of those two goals we scored. We saw a midfield and defense in the first half that was, at best, timid with the ball in the def...

Real Salt Lake and New York Red Bulls played to a 2-2 draw in a back-and-forth match featuring the first Real Salt Lake goals for Joao Plata and Cole Grossman. Plata got the affair off to a bright start with a goal well within the first minute, scoring at the far post on a fantastic breakaway started by rookie midfielder John Stertzer almost immediately after the kickoff. David Viana created the second only minutes later with a fine pass freeing Plata on the right side of the New York Red Bulls box, whose shot rebounded either off the post or the goalkeeper, with Cole Grossman capitali...

Real Salt Lake acquires forward Joao Plata from Toronto FC by Aaron Falk The Salt Lake Tribune Published Jan 30, 2013 09:51AM MDT Real Salt Lake added another forward to its roster Wednesday, acquiring Ecuadorian attacker Joao Plata from Toronto FC in exchange for a second round pick in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft. Plata, 20, has been playing in his native Ecuador after going on a six-month loan to LDU Quito in July. Toronto previously acquired Plata on loan from that very club before buying him outright last year. The 5-foot-2 speedster scored 10 goals and added nine assists in 52 appear...

Real Salt Lake's forward corps has reached a point that might be somewhat close to completion, but with one — maybe two, although probably one — big piece yet to arrive, judgment will wait for another day. The addition of Joao Plata to the squad certainly strengthens, but exactly how much that's the case remains to be seen. He remains an unproven quantity, and although it's easy to rush to judgment based on his lackluster statistics at Toronto FC, it's worth considering that nobody at what was almost certainly the worst MLS club in 2012 shone through statistically. Further, the additio...