Photo by Jose L. Argueta/ISIphotos.com
By FRANCO PANIZO
Two of D.C. United’s biggest contributors have undergone offseason surgery and are expected to be recovering for several weeks.
D.C. United announced on Wednesday that forward Chris Pontius and defender Daniel Woolard underwent operations in the past week. Pontius had surgery on Wednesday to repair his left hamstring and sciatic nerve, and is expected to be out of action for six to eight weeks. Woolard went under the knife on Nov. 1 to repair his big toe, and his timeframe for recovery is approximately four to six weeks.
The veterans were two of the more regular faces in United’s lineup during the club’s historically bad season in 2013. Pontius scored two goals and had three assists in 22 appearances while Woolard started in each of the 27 matches he played in.
Here are more notes from around MLS:
BERNARDEZ, CHAVEZ CALLED IN FOR HONDURAS FRIENDLIES
Victor Bernardez and Marvin Chavez’s seasons with the San Jose Earthquakes may be over, but that does not mean they are done for the year just yet. Bernardez and Chavez were both called up by Honduras for a pair of upcoming friendlies against Brazil and Ecuador. The Catrachos face Brazil on Nov. 16 at Sun Life Stadiun in Miami before traveling to Houston to take on Ecuador on Nov. 19 at BBVA Compass Stadium.
REAL SALT LAKE, WHITECAPS TO SPEND PART OF PRESEASON IN ARIZONA
Real Salt Lake and the Vancouver Whitecaps are reportedly heading back to Arizona. The two MLS clubs, as well as NASL expansion club Indy Eleven, will be among the professional soccer teams to hold part of their 2014 preseasons at the Grande Sports Academy in Casa Grande, Ariz. This will mark the fifth-straight year in which both RSL and the Whitecaps have held portions of their preseasons at the academy.
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Think Pontius and Woolard will come back and have bigger seasons in 2014? How do you see Bernardez and Chavez faring in Honduras’ upcoming friendlies? Hoping to see more teams train in Arizona next year?
Share your thoughts below.
Pontius can’t seem to catch a break.
So Brazil (v Honduras), Argentina (v Bosnia), Ecuador (v Honduras) and im sure others are playing in the states and we are playing in Austria and Scotland… Why cant we be playing Brazil and Argentina this break!!
I guess its good to get some road games in too..
Sorry the only eastern team with the talent to be a threat to western dominance was elimated! No one cares anymore about the playoffs or who the galaxy beats for the third straight cup!
I care…very much
laughter, then a single tear.
Nice notes today about an InterMilan player I don’t care about, and the Honduras friendlies, but you forgot the note about Seattle and Portland, LA and SLC playing in a small thing called the playoffs.
Wow dude, why are you such a jerk?
This from someone with “quit whining” in their moniker.