Philadelphia Union Midfielder Chris Pontius Voted MLS Player of the Week
June 3, 2016 - Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release
NEW YORK - Philadelphia Union midfielder Chris Pontius was voted Major League Soccer Player of the Week by the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR) for the 14th week of the 2016 MLS season.
An offseason acquisition via trade from rival D.C. United, Pontius has been a welcome addition and key contributor in Philadelphia Union's strong start to the season. Pontius again proved to be a difference maker, scoring a goal and recording an assist in Philadelphia's 3-2 victory over Columbus Crew SC at Talen Energy Stadium on June 1. The UC Santa Barbara product now has five goals and four assists on the season, his highest season totals since a 2012 campaign that saw Pontius selected to the AT&T MLS All-Star game and Best XI. Philadelphia sits in first place in the Eastern Conference and is fourth in the Supporters' Shield race (23 points, 6-3-5 record).
With the Union down a goal early in the match, Pontius made a spectacular play to equalize, scoring in the 21st minute. Pontius collected the ball and worked his way around the box, firing a shot from just outside the area through a crowd of defenders and past Crew SC goalkeeper Steve Clark to bring the score to 1-1. The AT&T Goal of the Week nominee was Pontius' third in two games against Columbus this season.
Pontius would help the Union take a definitive lead in the 57th minute as he outmuscled a defender along the sideline to make a run towards the box, drawing defenders in the process. The 29-year old found teammate Vincent Nogueira at the top of the box whose deflected shot landed in the net for a 2-1 Union lead.
After a two-week Copa America Centenario break, the Philadelphia Union return to MLS action against New York City FC at Yankee Stadium on Saturday, June 18 (1 p.m. ET, MLS Live).
The MLS Player of the Week is selected each week of the regular season by a panel of journalists from NASR. The group consists of members of print, television, radio and online media.
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