Don’t count the Union out. That was the message coming out of a shorthanded 3-1 win in Portland. But maybe the more important message is one I always like to stress: never underestimate the power of MLS, where on any given night teams that capitalize on mistakes can win, even on the road.

In the email today:

1. 🐍 Shorthanded in Portland No Problem for Union

Much has been made about the players missing from Philadelphia Union’s lineup in Portland on Saturday but the Negadelphia vibes within the fanbase heading into the game overlooked who was still there.

Give me a team with Julian Carranza, Kai Wagner, Alejandro Bedoya, Jakob Glesnes, Jack Elliott, Quinn Sullivan, Olivier Mbaizo, Mikael Uhre and the Delran DeBruyne and I’ll show you the way you beat a Timbers team falling asleep marking corners and dead balls.

Carranza scored practically flatfooted on a corner and again in the blink of an eye off a quick restart and Jeremy Rafanello’s audacious shot from distance set up a tap-in rebound for Sullivan in a game where the hosts had most of the ball (666 passes!) but didn’t do enough with it to break down a resilient Union back line.

There’s no way to sugarcoat how important of a win it was for the Union following the fallout of their disastrous exit from the Champions Cup and their disappointing trio of draws to start the year. But the game also reinforced just how important it is for the Union to play in front and to capitalize on opponents’ mistakes.

Oliver Semmle deserves credit for stepping in for Andre Blake and the fight of the team has shown has been very impressive. Even if the fans don’t believe in them, you can’t deny how much the Union believes in themselves and each other.

Yes, counting on Chris Donovan winning headers as a secondary left back to see out a road win is unconventional but as long as MLS is going to play through international breaks and as long as Venezuela keeps calling up Jesus Bueno to not play him this will be another obstacle for Jim Curtin and co. to overcome.

2. 🤩 Union II Wins Again at Home

Philadelphia Union II is two for two to start the season after exacting revenge on New England Revolution II in a come-from-behind 2-1 win on Sunday afternoon. Yes, that is a lot of twos.

Nick Pariano and Jamir Berdecio were the only first team players available in the match and with Andrew Rick traveling to Portland as a short-term loan to back up Semmle Ridley native Mike Sheridan made his professional debut.

The bench, meanwhile, was more or less the Union U17 team with Cavan Sullivan, Kellan LeBlanc, Diego Rocio and Jamir Johnson all featuring in the second half.

An own goal off a Kyle Tucker corner and a late winner from Sal Olivas off a pass from Sullivan were the difference in the 2-1 win for a U2 squad that heads to Illinois for a Thursday clash with Chicago Fire II.

Free hugs all around.

3. ⚽️ Tweet of the Day: Tyler Adams Golazo

4. 💧 Water Cooler: Portland Hero Prediction Results

5. 🔗 Link Roundup

• Todd Lewis of The Free Kick breaks down the goals from the Portland win.

• The USMNT threepeated as Concacaf Nations League champions with a 2-0 win over Mexico. Jamaica, meanwhile, finished third behind a 1-0 win and another clean sheet for Andre Blake against Panama.

• Argentina beat El Salvador 3-0 Friday night in a friendly at The Linc. Check out Carl Gublish’s photos from the game.

• If you didn’t get one of the US Open Cup posters we gave out last week (or if you want a higher quality larger version) you can order them in the Printify shop.

Visit the MLSStore to shop for Union gear.

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