Olwethu Makhanya made a belated debut in Major League Soccer on Saturday for Philadelphia Union as their new coach Bradley Carnell started his tenure with a 4-2 away win at Orlando.
The 19-year-old Mahkanya has been at Philadelphia for 18 months but although he had been on the bench for several matches last season, he was not given a league debut by previous coach Jim Curtin.
But former Bafana Bafana fullback Carnell showed immediate faith in the former Stellenbosch defender and played him for the full 90 minutes of a dream start for both South Africans.
Israeli international striker Tai Baribo scored two goals in Union’s victory, with Daniel Gazdag and Mikael Uhre adding the other two.
Philadelphia next play at home against FC Cincinnati on Saturday.