Union offense comes alive in second half of 3-0 win over Timbers

A snakebit season finally took a turn for Union midfielder Andrew Wenger. Nobody on the team had as many scoring chances with nothing to show for them than Wenger - until Saturday.

Firing a shot just from outside the box in the 69th minute after receiving a feed from Cristian Maidana and dribbling on goal, Wenger's first goal of the game and season paved the way for Saturday's 3-0 Major League Soccer win over the red-hot Portland Timbers at PPL Park.

It was Wenger's first goal since Oct. 11, 2014, in a 3-2 loss to Columbus. He had gone 21 games without a score.

"It's a relief," Wenger said. "It's been a long time, but maybe I was cursed there for a little bit."

Maidana, making a push for all-star consideration, had three assists, giving him nine for the season. Midfielder Vincent Nogueira scored the Union's final two goals.

"This was probably one of our best games this season," Nogueira said.

Playing their first MLS game in two weeks, the Union looked refreshed. Maidana was certainly refreshed. The Union were given five days off recently, and Maidana used the time to get married.

"I told him he's a much better player since he's been married," Union coach Jim Curtin quipped.

Maidana laughed at that comment but then turned serious.

"It's a big step in my life, and I have been with her 11 years," Maidana said through an interpreter. "I don't know if I have come back the same or better, but I am very content at the moment."

The Union (6-10-4) beat a Timbers team that is 9-7-4 and entered the game winners of six of their last seven.

The win wasn't without a price. In the 35th minute, Union defender Maurice Edu received a yellow card for a tackle on Diego Valeri. Edu will miss the Union's next MLS game Saturday at Toronto due to yellow-card accumulation.

In the 71st minute, Nogueira one-timed a back pass from Maidana to give the Union a 2-0 lead. Nogueira also connected on a feed from Maidana in the 82d minute.

In the first half, the Union had several scoring chances and twice hit the cross bar. Sebastien Le Toux missed on a left-footed blast from just outside the box. Late in the half, C.J. Sapong fired one off the crossbar from 12 yards out.

Portland had a 10-minute stretch late in the half when it took control, with the best chance seeing Valeri banging one off the cross bar on a free kick.