Crew outlast Union, 2-1

COLUMBUS, Ohio - When Union manager John Hackworth made his first substitution of the night, he gave Leo Fernandes some simple instructions.

"He wanted me to bring energy, to press their right center back, and to fill in the holes behind Jack [McInerney] and make runs and try to make an impact in the game," the 22-year-old forward said.

Fernandes made an impact in notching his first career goal, but it was not enough to prevent the Union's first loss of the season. Two first-half goals by Bernardo Anor powered the Crew (2-0-0) to a 2-1 Major League Soccer win on a chilly evening at Crew Stadium.

After Anor's header off a corner kick in the 24th minute and left-footed blast from about 35 yards out in first-half stoppage time put the Union (1-1-1) behind, 2-0, at the half, Fernandes replaced Cristian Maidana in the 55th minute. He scored seven minutes later when Sebastien Le Toux found him inside the box for a left-footed tap-in.

Fernandes nearly tied the game in the 70th minute, but his left-footed shot from close range was saved by Crew keeper Steve Clark.

"Leo came on and was a spark and clearly at that point we needed that," Hackworth said. "He brought some energy, but he also brought some quality touches. Unfortunate that he couldn't get a second."

It was that kind of night for the Union, which outshot the Crew, 19-9, and forced Clark into making three saves.

"They had the two chances in the first half and both of them were goals," said captain Brian Carroll, who returned to the lineup after missing last weekend's win against New England. "Both of them were things we could have been a little cleaner with."

Toronto 1, D.C. United 0 - Jermain Defoe scored his third MLS goal in two games to lift Toronto FC over United in the Reds' home opener.

Colorado 2, Portland 0 - Vicente Sanchez and Deshorn Brown scored on penalty kicks to lift the Rapids over the Timbers in Commerce City, Colo.