Union dominate, but settle for 0-0 tie with Timbers

Despite another game of dominating possession, the Union couldn't snap their winless streak that now stands at eight games.

Dominating everywhere but the scoreboard, the Union played the expansion Portland Timbers to a scoreless draw on Saturday before a sellout crowd of 18,504 at PPL Park in Chester.

The Union (8-7-12, 36 points) are now 0-3-5 in their last eight games. Portland stands at 9-12-6 for 33 points.

The Union came closest to scoring in the 88th minute when Kyle Nakazawa's one-timer off a Justin Mapp cross hit the crossbar from 16 yards out.

"I thought it was in," said Nakazawa, who replaced Veljko Paunovic in the 77th minute.

Nakazawa, like his teammates, was disappointed to only earn one point over a Timbers team that is now just 1-8-4 on the road.

"It would have been a dream story to come in and score the goal, and it's frustrating getting the tie when I could have put it away on that goal," he said.

The Timbers had a much different take.

"I was happy with our performance, and this is a very difficult place to play," said Portland coach John Spencer.

The Union started an offensive-friendly lineup that included Danny Mwanga and Paunovic up top and playmakers such as Freddy Adu, Sebastien Le Toux, and Roger Torres in the midfield.

What that lineup produced was a first half of possession dominance.

Defender Michael Farfan made several dangerous runs from the back, and the Union applied continuous pressure. The best first-half scoring chance came in the 28th minute when Torres fed Le Toux, whose one-timer went just wide of the goal from an angle on the right side about eight yards out.

Union keeper Zac MacMath made his second start with Faryd Mondragon out with a fractured finger. The defense was much better than Wednesday's 4-4 tie with New England when the Union suffered several lapses.

MacMath had one challenging first-half moment, a kick save of Jorge Perlaza from close range in stoppage time.

"He beat Carlos [Valdes] to the side and didn't have much of an angle, and I tried to close him down as quick as possible, and luckily I got my foot on it," MacMath said.

Mapp, who was inserted into the game in the 57th minute, had two blistering shots go wide, including a volley from 16 yards out in the 70th minute.