The Union’s 4-4-2 diamond helped them control play early, but the TImbers were always lurking on the counterattack. Philadelphia combined through the center early as Jamiro Monteiro worked with Brenden Aaronson to free up the teenager for a shot that was ripped over the bar.
Haris Medunjanin then got involved from deep and picked out Kacper Przybylko in the 14th minute but the big striker couldn’t find the finish.
Portland announced themselves on the quarter-hour mark when Bran Fernandez picked out Diego Valeri on the left side of the box. The veteran playmaker juked into space and unwound a vicious right-footed curler that Andre Blake stretched to palm away.
Ale Bedoya then found Aaronson in the center of the box but the homegrown player could not get the opener from close range.
The Union looked to have a penalty in the 28th minute when Aaronson’s foot was stepped on from behind after he worked out of trouble. Referee Drew Fischer listened to his VAR official and waved play on.
That proved to be a pivotal moment as Fernandez sprung to life and scored two in five minutes. First, he was picked out by Andy Polo with a gorgeous cross to the far post off a break. Next, veteran superstars Diegos Valeri and Chara combined to open Fernandez for a stunning second.
The Union got an instant impact from halftime substitute Ilsinho as he broke up the right and played a far post ball that Kai Wagner corralled and Fafa Picault centered. Przybylko got a foot on it and after dinking off the post it trickled past Jeff Attinella and into the net.
Ilsinho went hunting for the equalizer and combined with Bedoya up the right to burst into the box, with only a sliding tackle saving the day.
There were groans moments later when Medunjanin’s cross found Picault’s head. Attinella dove to save and the ball fell to Przybylko. The striker ripped into it from close range but tagged the inside of the near post and watched as his shot spun across the face of goal and out.
Jamiro Monteiro then came close after being picked out at the top of the box. He cut around one man and hit a roller wide of the far post.
Portland closed things out with a late goal from Valeri. The unstoppable striker spun into the far side netting. In Steaz stoppage time, Philly kept pushing but the net would not ripple for the home side.
Philadelphia is back in action on Wednesday when they close out a three-game homestand against Colorado Rapids before heading out to Minnesota for their first match at Allianz Arena.
