Union's Chris Pontius overcame injury to help out in a big win over D.C. United

It wasn't a focus of the Union's 4-0 win Saturday against D.C. United at RFK Stadium, but the fact that Chris Pontius was on the field against his former teammates showed the toughness of the Union midfielder.

A week ago Tuesday, Pontius suffered a bruised right foot in practice, and the next day he couldn't even put his shoe on because the swelling was so bad.

Yet Pontius not only played, he had the game's first assist on a pass to Haris Medunjanin, who blasted a shot from 30 yards out in the 39th minute.

Pontius, who turned 30 on Friday, played 77 minutes against his former D.C. United teammates and showed no ill effects from the injury.

Before Pontius went to the Union, he struggled with injuries throughout his six seasons with D.C. United. He was especially slowed by hamstring injuries and had two surgeries. With the Union, he has shown great durability since being acquired after the 2015 season.

Pontius played 33 games, making 32 starts, last season. This year, he has started all 10 games for the Union (2-4-4), who will host the resurgent Houston Dynamo (6-3-1) at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Talen Energy Stadium.

"Some of those injuries tend to stick around longer. That one wasn't too bad, and I was very lucky," Pontius said after a training session Tuesday. "It is one of those things. With the adrenaline in a game you don't feel much. But it tends to be a bit sore a day or two after."

He has yet to score this year after totaling 12 goals in his first season a year ago with the Union and being named Major League Soccer's comeback player of the year. This season, Pontius has four assists, second on the team to Medunjanin, who has five.

"To be honest, it is not weighing on me that much," Pontius said about not scoring this year. "In the run we were in before this current [win] streak, you want to win so bad, and that makes me feel better than scoring any goals or getting any assists."

Coach Jim Curtin was as impressed by Pontius' mental focus as his physical ability Saturday. Earlier last week, Pontius talked to Curtin and told him he was going to get engaged Sunday, the day after the game.

"I was nervous for him going into Saturday's game, where his head would be," Curtin said.

There was no reason to worry. "I thought he had a really good performance," Curtin said.

The Union have won two in a row and have three consecutive shutouts. Their first win of the season, a 3-0 triumph over the New York Red Bulls, snapped a 15-game winless streak dating back to last year.

"Winning is contagious, and you can see it in the group," Pontius said. "You can see how everybody is confident playing, and right now the only important thing is for the team to continue to keep rolling."

Wednesday, 7:30 p.m., Talen Energy Stadium.

Records: Dynamo, 6-3-1, 19 points; Union, 2-4-4, 10 points.

TV: The Comcast Network.

Dynamo on the road: 0-3-0

Union at home: 1-2-2.

Goals: Dynamo, 21; Union, 15.

Goals against: Dynamo, 14; Union, 14.

Last game: Houston won, 2-1, at home against Vancouver on Friday. The Union won, 4-0, at D.C. United on Saturday.

All-time series: Houston leads, 6-4-4.

Last meeting: The Union lost, 1-0, at Houston on July 2, 2016.

Coaches: Houston, Wilmer Cabrera, 15-22-7; Union, Jim Curtin, 30-40-26.

About the Dynamo: Houston is tied for first place in the Western Conference with FC Dallas and Sporting Kansas City. . . . Alberth Elis scored Houston's first goal in Friday's win over Vancouver but left the game in the 31th minute due to a right hamstring injury. He is listed as questionable. . . . Midfielder Eric Alexander (sprained right MCL) and defender George Malki (torn left ACL) are out. . . . Erick Torres scored on a penalty kick against Vancouver, giving him eight goals this season, tied for the best in MLS. . . . With 21 goals the Dynamo are tied with Portland for the most in MLS. . . . Former Union midfielder Andrew Wenger has appeared in seven games for Houston, making one start. He played 34 minutes in a reserve role during the most recent game against Vancouver.

About the Union: The Union have recorded three consecutive shutouts and earned points in four straight games. . . . Haris Medunjanin had a goal and two assists to spark Saturday's win at D.C. United. . . . Medunjanin, defender Oguchi Onyewu and midfielder Fafa Picault scored their first career MLS goals against D.C. United. . . . In winning two straight, the Union have outscored their opponents, 7-0. . . . C.J. Sapong has a team-high seven goals. . . . Midfielder Roland Alberg, who missed the D.C. United game with a quadriceps strain, won't play against Houston. But coach Jim Curtin said Saturday's game against visiting Colorado is possible. . . . Midfielder Derrick Jones will miss his second game while with the U.S. under-20 team for the FIFA under-20 World Cup.