As frustrating as it was seeing the Union come up empty handed despite being up a man from the 39th minute on, the scoreless draw in Frisco still capped an unbeaten month for the team that saw them pick up 15 points in the standings and advance to the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open Cup. Going into a month with 9 games in all competitions that included two trips north of the border and visits to Atlanta and Texas a point haul like that would’ve seemed unlikely. But here we are in June, halfway through the MLS season and the Union are in the lead both in the Eastern Conference and the Supporters’ Shield race.

In the email today:

1. ⚡️ Points Squandered

By Greg Oldfield

The Union outplayed FC Dallas from start to finish, but even with a man advantage for the entire second half, the Eastern Conference leaders failed the take all three points at Toyota Park Saturday night. After FC Cincinnati lost 2-1 earlier in the evening, the Union missed an opportunity to extend their lead in the East, a rare night of blanks for one of the league’s best attacking teams.

The Union have never won at Toyota Park and have been held scoreless against Dallas since Amobi Okugo’s tally in a 2-1 loss in July 2014.

Playing their ninth game in the month of May, the Union went with a rotated lineup that included Ben Bender’s first MLS start as well as spot starts from captain Alejandro Bedoya, Jesus Bueno, and Chris Donovan, and a ninth start this season for Andrew Rick.

The visitors initiated their aggressive game plan throughout the first half, pressuring Dallas into several tight positions in their own end. Donovan had the best chance early when Bedoya flicked a Frankie Westfield long throw into his path, but the former Drexel star headed the ball over the bar. Dallas countered with their own chance minutes later when former MLS MVP Lucho Acosta sent a floater over the top to Anderson Julio, putting him one-on-one with Rick, but the Dallas forward pushed the ball wide from close range.

The Union pressure paid off in the 40 th minute when Dallas center back Lalas Abubakar was sent off for his second yellow card, this time on a drawn late challenge on Donovan, just seven minutes after picking up his first card for a foul on Mikael Uhre, who was forced off to injury shortly after. Despite carrying play and a man advantage, the Union weren’t able to create any chances until a Danley Jean Jacques strike sailed wide late in first-half stoppage time.

Bruno Damiani continued the one-way Union dominance with two great looks to start the second half. His header from a Kai Wagner corner sailed inches over the bar four minutes in then another header a minute later from a Bender cross hit the post and rebounded out. Dallas had two very good looks off the counter-attack midway through the half, but Rick kept the hosts away with routine saves. Jovan Lukic, a second-half substitute had the Union’s first shot on goal in the 68th minute, forcing Dallas goalkeeper Maarten Paes into a diving save to maintain the scoreless game.

With the final minutes passing by, and the Union maintaining all of the possession, they were unable to find the late magic like they did in the midweek win over Toronto FC, failing to win a game that had been for the taking throughout. The silver lining is that the Union’s unbeaten streak has now reached nine games.

The international break provides a temporary relief for some Union players while others continue the grind with their national teams, returning back home June 7th for a friendly with Liga Mx side Atlas before resuming their MLS campaign against Charlotte FC at Subaru Park June 14th.

2. 🌎 International Duty Calls

Danley Jean Jacques, Andre Blake, Tai Baribo and Quinn Sullivan lead the list of players who will be away on international duty over the June international break.

Quinn has a chance to impress in camp with the full national team and and make a case for inclusion on the U.S. roster for the Concacaf Gold Cup. Jean Jacques is on the Haitian team and Blake is a lock for Jamaica’s squad. The tournament kicks off on June 15.

Tai Baribo is also expected to be with Israel for World Cup qualifiers and several other first team players will be part of U.S. youth national team camps. They include Frankie Westfield with the U-20s, Andrew Rick, CJ Olney, Sal Olivas, David Vazquez and CJ Olney with the U-19s and Cavan Sullivan with the U-17 team.

Training will certainly be lighter ahead of the friendly Saturday against Atlas and plenty of reserves will have an opportunity to get minutes.

As always the biggest hope of the international break is that players will all come back healthy.

3. 📋 Social Post of the Day: Pros/Cons

4. 💧 Water Cooler: Players Ratings Poll

Weigh in on the performances and share your reactions to last night’s draw with FC Dallas in our Player Ratings Poll.

And results/responses from the win over Toronto:

“Somehow I felt like Union would pull through and win after the TOR goal. There seemed to be that resilience on the night. Not a commanding performance but resilience.”

“Loved watching Wagner and Harriel hitting good form in this stretch.”

“Usually I’d say something Union goal related, but Blake’s first save was a warning to defend and not ball watch.”

5. 🔗 Link Roundup

• USMNT star Tyler Adams was in Philadelphia yesterday to help dedicate a new mini pitch.

• The USWNT rolled to a 3-0 win over China to open their summer slate of games on Saturday.

• Philadelphia native CJ dos Santos has signed a new contract with San Diego FC that will keep him with the club through 2027 with a club option for 2028.

• West Chester United’s loss to Christos FC in the Region 1 Amateur Cup semifinal has been reversed after a review panel ruled Christos had used an ineligible player in the match. West Chester will now play in the final at the Ukrainian Sport Center in North Wales on June 14.

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