Sporting Kansas City defender Igor Juliao made his MLS debut on Wednesday, earning the start at right back and playing the full 90 minutes in the 2-1 loss to Philadelphia. In doing so, the Brazilian right back broke a club record set seven years earlier by becoming the youngest player in team history to play a complete game in an MLS regular season match.
<strong>Player Name</strong> |
<strong>Age</strong> |
<strong>Date</strong> |
<strong>Opponent</strong> |
<strong>Location</strong> |
<strong>Result</strong> |
1. Igor Juliao |
19 years, 264 days |
5/14/2014 |
vs Philadelphia Union |
Arrowhead Stadium |
2-1 L |
2. Yura Movsisyan |
19 years, 283 days |
5/12/2007 |
vs FC Dallas |
Sporting Park |
2-1 L |
Juliao -- acquired on loan in April from Fluminense FC through the end of 2014 -- also became the sixth youngest player to start an MLS match to date in 2014.
<strong>Player Name</strong> |
<strong>Team</strong> |
<strong>Born</strong> |
<strong>GS</strong> |
1. Kellyn Acosta |
FC Dallas |
07-24-1995 |
5 |
2. Marco Delgado |
Chivas USA |
05-16-1995 |
2 |
3. Diego Fagundez |
New England Revolution |
02-14-1995 |
10 |
4. Kekuta Manneh |
Vancouver Whitecaps |
12-30-1994 |
4 |
5. Charles Eloundou |
Colorado Rapids |
12-04-1994 |
1 |
6. Igor Juliao |
Sporting KC |
08-23-1994 |
1 |
He led all players on Wednesday in tackles (6) and tackles won (5), while accumulating the second most touches (88) and winning the second most duels (9) amongst the 28 players who featured at Sporting Park. Following the match, Sporting Kansas City Manager Peter Vermes expressed his approval with the play of the newcomer.
"For a 19-year-old, I thought he played very well. I think he is very scrappy," Vermes said. "You have to understand he just started with us. So in a short period of time, I thought he did a great job in the game. He's a bright spot for the team."
Juliao made his professional debut as a 17-year-old in the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A in August 2012 and was a member of Brazil’s Under-20 Men’s National Team for the 2013 South American Youth Championship.
