Rain Soaked Portland Timbers Draw Philadelphia Union 0-0

The Portland Timbers brought in some typically northwestern weather for the team's final east coast match of the 2013 season. Despite the pouring rain, the Timbers were unable to find the back of the net and drew 0-0 with the Philadelphia Union in Chester, PA.

After bossing the game for the first twenty minutes, the Timbers did eventually cede some of the ball to the Union, but even so the team had the ball for most of the game, accumulating 59% of the possession on the night while racking up 133 more passes.

Despite the vast difference in possession stats, the match almost came down to the final moments as both sides pressed forward looking for a win. With the final minutes of the game ticking away, the Union managed to claim corner kick after corner kick, but the Timbers defense repeatedly won the battle in the air.

Finally, the Timbers worked the ball down to the far end of the pitch for a corner of their own. Although none of hte Timbers could direct the ball on goal, it did fall to Andrew Jean Baptiste and, in the 93' of play, he had another chance to be a stoppage time hero. Unfortunately, as the ball fell to him, AJB went for an ambitious side volley, which he send out of bounds rather than testing the keeper.

The game could have gone differently if not for yet another heroic save from Donovan Ricketts in the 71'. The ball fell to Conor Casey in the Timbers box and he struck a well placed volley into the corner of the near post. However, thanks to his almost supernatural reflexes, Ricketts was able to get a hand up and to the ball before it could find the back of the net.

Although the Timbers will take a point and a shutout on the road, this game felt winnable. With a road trip to San Jose coming up next weekend, the Timbers will be looking to find a but more of a spark in the attack if they do not want to fall off the pace to compete for the Supporters Shield.