The best season in Chris Pontius’ MLS soccer career came to a stunning end Saturday night when the former UCSB star suffered a fractured right tibia in a sliding collision with David Junior Lopes of Chivas USA during D.C. United’s 3-0 win at the Home Depot Center.
Pontius was removed from the field on a stretcher and was met by his family and friends in the locker room before being transported to a hospital, where he learned the severity of the injury.
Lopes was red-carded after the impact, which, according to reports, could be heard throughout the stadium.
The injury happened a couple minutes after Pontius earned his third assist of the night on a goal by Charlie Davies.
Pontius, 24, started all 25 MLS matches for D.C. United and scored seven goals and had five assists. He recently spent a week training with the U.S. national team, his second career call-up.
