Joao Plata was born in Ecuador, making his youth start in his home country. In 2011, he joined Toronto FC on loan from LDU Quito. He played two seasons in Toronto, winning two Canadian Championships. In 2013, the forward, who was known for his 5'2 height, joined Real Salt Lake. In his first season in Utah, he scored 4 goals and assisted 8. Real Salt Lake won the Western Conference during that season, but ended up losing MLS Cup in penalties.
In 2014, Plata lifted off with the highest scoring year of his career. In the first match of the season, he toed the line and ran in behind to score the lone goal in a 1-0 win at the LA Galaxy. He showed off his quickness in the following match, touching the ball into the box, faking a shot, then lacing it home in San Jose. Less than two minutes into a home mach against the Whitecaps, he sent a left footed strike into the goal. In the following match, he scored a double against Chicago. The first was tucked into the bottom left, the second was a stoppage time match-winner at the back post. He went into the bottom right against the Rapids as well. Plata rocketed a penalty kick into the upper netting to defeat New England at home. He scored another one of those weak footed shots into the bottom right corner, with great accuracy, to equalize Vancouver. He perfectly curled a shot to the back stick in a draw with the Red Bulls. Plata's final goal of the season was smashed into the upper 90. RSL finished third, losing to the LA Galaxy in the first round. He finished with a career-high of 13 goals.
After a blazing 2014 season, Plata saw a dip in success in 2015. He did help get his team all the way to the Semis of the US Open Cup, but were unable to get over the hump against the eventual winners in Sporting Kansas City. He danced into the box to score the match-winner against Houston, later providing an assist. In the next match, he powered home a game-winner penalty kick to defeat SKC. Less than a minute into a game against DC United, Plata opened the scoring from outside the box. Ninety minutes later, RSL had lost 6-4 in a thriller. His last goal of the campaign was a floating free kick that settled directly into the Colorado goal.
After an off year for Real Salt Lake, Joao Plata returned to elite form in 2016. He scored his first of the year just 26 minutes into the season, making no mistake from the spot. Now wearing the No. 10, changing from 8, he scored his second of the day in Orlando at the back post. Plata looped another pretty free kick in Portland, opting to go to the back post, and completely fooling the goalkeeper. In April, he capitalized on a mistake from the Rapids' backline, practically dribbling the ball into the goal. In an attempted comeback in Columbus, Plata scored late, but they lost 4-3. He scored twice in the US Open Cup, but his team went crashing out in the Round of 16. On the last day of July, he scored what may be his best career goal, smashing a deep strike off the underside of the crossbar and in at Philadelphia. Plata scored a brace against the LA Galaxy, with the first being a penalty, and the second a screaming hit into the top corner at the near post. In the playoffs, Plata scored to tie it up at 1, but in the end LA knocked them out, 3-1. He ended with a career-high of 12 assists.
In 2017, it was another solid year of production for Plata. He scored his first of the season following an incredible combination play with Jefferson Savarino. In a blowout loss versus Houston, Plata sent a rocket of a free kick into the net. His pace helped him round Clement Diop to cap off a 6-1 victory over the Galaxy. It was another brace against Portland in July, as he converted a penalty, then sprinted straight in behind to score late in match with three red cards. He closed his season out by picking the ball up in the wide areas, cutting inside, then beating Tim Howard. RSL narrowly missed out on the postseason.
Joao Plata went for 8 goals and 8 assists a piece in 2018, another great year of production. He once again scored in the season opener, using his quick feet to tuck a low shot into the net. He also scored in the second match of the year, versus LAFC. His late penalty kick against Colorado kickstarted a 3-0 win. Plata scored twice in a July loss to Minnesota United, the first a free kick straight off the training ground. His comeback attempt fell short, but he did score the second in style, a headed goal for the 5'2 attacker. He would not be denied another goal against Tim Howard later on in the campaign. RSL was the sixth seed heading into the playoffs. They beat LAFC, but lost in the series against SKC, despite a two-assist game for Joao Plata.
In 2019, Plata completely lost his role at Real Salt Lake. His productive years were past him, and RSL played him just 305 minutes during the season. He was diminished to a sub, but he took the opportunity to score one last goal against Colorado in the Rocky Mountain Cup, something he had done so many times before. Plata smashed home his penalty kick to score the final goal of his Real Salt Lake career. His contract option was denied after 2019. This last season for RSL likely left a sour taste in the mouths of the fans of the club, but his accomplishments of the previous seasons should not be overruled. He went onto play in Liga MX, and now for FAS in the first tier of El Salvador. The Ecuadorian forward was quite effective for many years in Major League Soccer, not only scoring, but also being a playmaker. Joao Plata comes in at #41.
YEAR | CLUB | MINUTES | GOALS | ASSISTS |
2019 | RSL | 305 | 1 | 0 |
2018 | RSL | 1,721 | 8 | 8 |
2017 | RSL | 2,318 | 7 | 5 |
2016 | RSL | 2,478 | 9 | 12 |
2015 | RSL | 1,431 | 4 | 4 |
2014 | RSL | 1,985 | 13 | 6 |
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