Danny Mwanga

PORTLAND, Ore. - Union fans could look at Friday's 1-0 loss to the Portland Timbers in one of two ways. The optimists could point out that the team's back line was missing two stalwarts, center back Danny Califf and left back Jordan Harvey. They could look at the narrow confines of Jeld-Wen Field, the constant din created by the Timbers Army supporters, and the fact that Portland is undefeated at home this season. Add in the many chances to score that the Timbers squandered, and a 1-0 loss doesn't look so bad. The pessimists, however, could echo Union team manager Peter Nowak's rather blunt postgame remarks.

It was originally not scheduled this way, but the Union will return Saturday with a 4 p.m. matchup against the visiting San Jose Earthquakes after having a two-week break. Originally the Union were supposed to play Real Salt Lake in Sandy, Utah, last Saturday, but that match was rescheduled until Sept. 3 because Real was involved in the CONCACAF Champions League final, where they finished as runners-up to the Mexican club Monterrey. Two weeks off is an eternity for MLS teams, and Union team manager Peter Nowak had to alter his training regimen.

MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER Union (7-4-6) at San Jose Earthquakes (5-6-6) Saturday, 10:30 p.m. at Buck Shaw Stadium. TV: Comcast SportsNet Last game: The Union played last Saturday, earning a 2-2 draw at RFK Stadium against D.C. United. San Jose is coming off Wednesday's 2-0 loss to Chivas USA at the Home Depot Center. Outlook: Union midfielder Veljko Paunovic, who has played well in his four games with the team, is listed as doubtful with a left hip strain.

PORTLAND, Ore. - It's been hard for almost any visiting team to get a result at the Portland Timbers' cozy Jeld-Wen Field so far in this Major League Soccer season. Last night, the Union was tasked with taking points without two of its most important players: Danny Califf, who sat out with a cold, and Jordan Harvey, who was suspended. For most of the game, the Union's makeshift backline held firm. But it was finally beaten in the 72nd minute on a set-piece goal by Mamadou Danso, and lost, 1-0, before 18,627 raucous fans.

Union team manager Peter Nowak says that being flexible is the key to moving on in this 34-game Major League Soccer season. One day's lineup may not be the next day's. The topic came up because Nowak, during his weekly news conference at PPL Park, was asked the reasoning for not starting forward Danny Mwanga, the overall first pick of the 2010 SuperDraft, in Saturday's 1-0 win in Houston. Mwanga came on strong in his rookie year, finishing with seven goals and four assists.

Four games into the season and the Union has played nothing but 1-0 games. The good news is that it has won three of them, putting the Union (3-1-0, nine points) in first place in Major League Soccer's Eastern Conference. The latest 1-0 thriller came over New York Red Bulls on Saturday night at PPL Park before 19,027, an attendance record for the 10-month-old stadium on the Chester waterfront. "What's the difference if we win 5-0 or 1-0?" asked Union manager Peter Nowak.

HARRISON, N.J. - The Union better hope the adage "defense wins championships" holds weight, because its offense has far too many holes as the team's quest for the MLS Cup begins. In its final game of the regular season Thursday night at Red Bull Arena, the Union lost, 1-0, and was flat-out exposed on prime-time television by a New York side hungry for one of the final playoff spots. The Union (11-8-15, 48 points) which already clinched a postseason berth, was playing for a chance at the top seed in the Eastern Conference.

MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER Colorado Rapids (7-6-10) at Union (8-4-7) 7:30 p.m. Friday at PPL Park. TV: Fox Soccer Channel. Last MLS game: The Union won, 3-0, at New England on July 17. Colorado played New England to a 2-2 draw on Saturday, allowing the equalizer on a penalty kick in the 90th minute. Outlook: The Union played the Rapids to a 1-1 draw in Colorado on June 4 as Danny Mwanga scored the equalizer in the 66th minute on a spectacular goal.

It was a 0-0 result, but it was good enough to put the Union back into a tie for first place in MLS' Eastern Conference. The one point earned for the tie with San Jose at Santa Clara, Calif., Saturday night gives the Union 28 points, the same total as the New York Red Bulls, a 1-0 loser to D.C. United on Saturday in Harrison, N.J. The Union (7-4-7), with a four-game unbeaten streak, dominated play in the second half. "With the chances [we had], we need to do better, much better," manager Peter Nowak told the team's website.

The biggest question facing the Union as they prepare for their third Major League Soccer season will be how to replace leading scorer Sebastien Le Toux. But at least there won't be a shortage of candidates. The team added to the pool by signing Colombian first-division forward Lionard Pajoy on Wednesday. Terms were not disclosed for the 30-year-old Pajoy, who led Itagüí Ditaires in scoring with 13 goals while adding three assists in 27 starts. During Colombia's Clausura, held in the second half of the calendar year, Pajoy had 10 goals in 18 starts.