Nowak has faith in winless Union

A YEAR AGO, the Union had a 2-0-1 record after three games and sat in first place in MLS' Eastern Conference.

This year, after six regulars disappeared from the roster in the offseason, the Union is 0-3-0.

But Sebastien Le Toux will be back in PPL Park on Saturday . . . playing for the Vancouver Whitecaps.

The latest Union loss was by 1-0 on Saturday at Chicago.

"It's never easy to be in a situation like we are right now after three games," team manager Peter Nowak said. "I think from last week [2-1 loss to Colorado], we played much better. It's not easy for the guys in the locker room, but life goes on."

Chicago's goal was scored by Dominic Oduro in the game's 28th minute.

"I'm disappointed that I didn't get a full hand to it and push it wide," said Union goalkeeper Zac MacMath.

The Union was credited with two shots on goal, both by Gabriel Gomez.

"There's always anxiousness [to get the first win]," said midfielder Gabriel Farfan. "We always want to get three pioints and right now we need three points more than ever."

Vancouver has a 2-0-1 record heading into Saturday's 4 p.m. game, and Le Toux has scored one of its three goals.

"We are a very good team, young but very good," Nowak said. "We have the quality to win games. That's my job right now, to inject the confidence and the security that they are still a good team."