| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Angelo Jasiel Balanta[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 1 July 1990 | ||
| Place of birth | Santiago de Cali, Colombia | ||
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | ||
| Playing position | Left winger / Striker | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Milton Keynes Dons (on loan from Queens Park Rangers) |
||
| Number | 11 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –2007 | Queens Park Rangers | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2007– | Queens Park Rangers | 25 | (2) |
| 2008–2009 | → Wycombe Wanderers (loan) | 11 | (3) |
| 2010–2011 | → Milton Keynes Dons (loan) | 18 | (6) |
| 2011– | → Milton Keynes Dons (loan) | 20 | (4) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 20:41, 31 December 2011 (UTC). † Appearances (Goals). |
|||
Angelo Jasiel Balanta (born 1 July 1990) is a Colombian footballer who plays for MK Dons on loan from Queens Park Rangers as a striker.
Contents |
Born in Cali, Colombia, Balanta moved to England and grew up in Greenford and moved to Fulham as a youth where he attended Hurlingham & Chelsea Secondary school. Balanta progressed through the Queens Park Rangers' youth system before being promoted to the first team in 2007. He was spotted by QPR scouts playing for CB Hounslow United who play in The Combined County Football Division.[2] He signed his first professional contract with QPR in January 2008, which will keep him at the club until 2010 and was given shirt number 36.[3]
He made his first team debut when we was brought on as a substitute, replacing Ben Sahar, against Crystal Palace on 4 December 2007. He made his first start against Watford on 29 December 2007. In the 10th minute of the game, Balanta put Dexter Blackstock through with a looping ball which resulted in him being fouled and a penalty kick being given, which was scored by Martin Rowlands. In the 40th minute, Balanta won an aerial challenge against Lloyd Doyley and found unmarked Martin Rowlands with a lob. Rowlands scored with a chip over Richard Lee from an acute angle. Balanta is highly rated at QPR and is the latest talent to break through the youth set up at Loftus Road.[3] On 5 January 2008, he made his FA Cup debut against Chelsea, coming on as a 65th minute substitute for new signing Hogan Ephraim. On 23 February 2008, Balanta scored his first senior goal for QPR against Sheffield United at Loftus Road. The goal came in the 19th minute when Hogan Ephraim whipped in a cross into the near post where Balanta latched onto the ball. Rangers drew the game 1–1.
At the start of the 2008–09 season, new manager Iain Dowie handed Balanta the number 19 shirt and gave him his first start in a League Cup third round game away at Swindon Town, which was won 3–2, with Balanta scoring the first goal. On 13 November 2008, Balanta moved on loan to League Two side Wycombe Wanderers for three months.[4] He was recalled from his loan spell two weeks early having scored three goals in 11 games.[5][6]
In June 2010 Balanta moved on loan to Milton Keynes Dons for the entire 2010–11 season.[7] On 1 August 2011 Balanta returned to MK Dons for a five-month loan.[8][9]
In September 2008, the England Under-19 side placed Balanta on standby as a replacement were a player to withdraw from the team.[10]
|
|||||