Danny Mwanga

Youth

Mwanga's father, who was an adviser to former Congolese dictator Mobutu Sese Seko, was killed during the nation's civil war in 1997, and his mother had to leave him and his sisters behind with their grandmother. Mwanga eventually moved to the United States in 2006, reuniting with his mother and settling in Portland, Oregon. He attended Jefferson High School, and played club soccer for Westside Metros Soccer Club before playing college soccer at Oregon State University (OSU). At OSU he started 11 matches as a freshman, scoring four goals, and was named the 2008 Pacific-10 Conference Freshman of the Year. The next year he was the player of the year in the conference after scoring 14 goals in 18 games, and was also selected as a second team All-American.

Professional

Mwanga was drafted the 1st overall pick of the 2010 MLS SuperDraft by the expansion Philadelphia Union. He made his professional debut in the opening game of the 2010 MLS season, a 2–0 away loss against Seattle Sounders FC. On May 15, he had his first MLS goal at Lincoln Financial Field against FC Dallas in stoppage time to earn the club a 1–1 draw. He also scored a second consecutive stoppage-time goal two weeks later against Houston Dynamo for the Union to win 3–2 away. He scored seven goals in 24 games and was named Soccer America's Rookie of the year, as well a finalist for the MLS Rookie of the Year Award. He had a two-goal performance at Toronto FC in Philadelphia's 6–2 away win on May…