D.C. United defender Conner Antley will miss the remainder of the MLS season after tearing his left ACL on Saturday in Atlanta, the team announced Tuesday.
“The way he’s worked to get to this level is something that not many are familiar with,” Coach Troy Lesesne said. “It doesn’t happen that a player at that age in the USL [second and third divisions] always gets an opportunity at the MLS level. And so he got that, and then he took it a step further and started a number of matches and made a big impact for us.”
Antley previously played for third-tier South Georgia Tormenta and second-flight Indy Eleven and the Tampa Bay Rowdies.
On Saturday, Antley entered at the start of the second half. In the third minute of stoppage time, he rushed toward an opponent to receive a pass near the sideline before stopping short.
He fell, grasping his knee, but popped up and continued to play while limping noticeably. During a pause, referee Joe Dickerson signaled to the United bench for medical assistance, but perhaps knowing his team was out of substitutions, Antley waved off the staff and proceeded to help United secure a 3-2 victory.
When the final whistle sounded, he sat on the field as the training staff tended to him.
“It’s just a testament to him and such a strength of character that he decides he’s going to stay out there and help the boys push it over the line,” teammate Jared Stroud said. “It gives you chills to see things like that.”
Antley is the second D.C. player lost to a season-ending medical issue. Defensive midfielder Russell Canouse had his colon removed in March and will undergo follow-up procedures next week and in July.
Antley played left back in a four-man back line and left-sided center back in a three-man arrangement. His calf injury prompted Lesesne to slide midfielder Matti Peltola to the back line the past two matches. At halftime Saturday, Antley replaced left wing back Cristian Dájome.
Lesesne is expected to start Peltola, Lucas Bartlett and Christopher McVey on the back line Wednesday night against the New York Red Bulls at Audi Field.
Notes: Matai Akinmboni, a 17-year-old homegrown center back, was loaned to second-division Loudoun United. He has appeared in two MLS matches and started once this season. …
Striker Christian Benteke was voted MLS’s player of the match day after recording his second hat trick of the season. He has won the award twice, one behind Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi. Miami’s Luis Suárez and Real Salt Lake’s Cristian Arango also have won it twice. Benteke is tied with Suárez and Arango for the league lead in goals (11). Bridging the offseason, he has three hat tricks in his past 13 appearances.
