Michee Ngalina makes MLS debut

Michee Ngalina came off the bench in the 81st minute Saturday night to make his first MLS appearance for the Philadelphia Union.

Down 2-1 to the Portland Timbrers, the 19-year-old replaced Ray Gaddis to give the Union an extra attacker.

Though it was his MLS debut it wasn’t the Democratic Republic of Congo native’s first team debut. He made an appearance for the first team on a short-term loan deal as a second half substitute in U.S. Open Cup game against Richmond Kickers last June. He came on as a second half sub in a friendly against Eintracht Frankfurt in July. He also featured for the first team in preseason.

Players on Steel FC contracts can be loaned up for U.S. Open Cup games or friendlies but not for MLS fixtures.

Matthew Ralph

Matthew Ralph is the managing editor of Philadelphia Soccer Now. He's covered soccer at all levels for a decade in the Philadelphia region and has also written for TheCup.us, NPSL, PrepSoccer and other publications. He lives with his wife and two young children in Broomall, Pa., but grew up in South Jersey and is originally from Kansas.

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