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Union start regular season with hard-fought scoreless tie at MLS champ Columbus

If you think scoreless ties are evil, you might not be convinced of how well the Union played. But if you watched the game and thought the Union looked quite good, you’re right.

Anthony Fontana, left, battles for the ball against Harrison Afful, right, during Sunday's game.
Anthony Fontana, left, battles for the ball against Harrison Afful, right, during Sunday's game.Read moreDaniel Herlensky / Columbus Crew SC

The Union opened the regular season with a very creditable scoreless tie at reigning MLS champion Columbus on Sunday.

If you’re the sort of person who thinks scoreless ties are evil, you might not be convinced of how well the Union played. But if you watched the game and thought the Union looked quite good, you’re right.

“Coming to this place and getting a point, not conceding a goal, is something that we’re very proud of,” Union manager Jim Curtin said. But he immediately added that “we can play a lot better, we can be a lot sharper and more decisive with our buildups, with our passing in the final third.”

Though there were no goals in the game, there were 27 shots — 15 for the Union and 12 for the Crew. Columbus had a 6-5 advantage in shots on goal, thwarted by a terrific performance from Andre Blake.

At the other end, Eloy Room was plenty impressive for Columbus, starting with a double-save on his line in the 19th minute.

The Union also got lucky a few times, starting in the 39th. Jakob Glesnes shoved Pedro Santos to the ground at the edge of the 18-yard box and referee Ramy Touchan called for a penalty kick, but replays showed the contact happened just outside the box. The video review booth told Touchan to go to the monitor, he did, and he changed his call to a free kick. (There was definitely a foul, and Glesnes rightly got a yellow card for it.)

Zelarayán shot the free kick straight at Blake, who made an easy catch.

» READ MORE: The Union’s regular season opener Sunday vs. Columbus will be unlike any in MLS history

Curtin made his only substitution of the game in the 62nd minute, withdrawing Anthony Fontana for Sergio Santos. Two minutes later, Alejandro Bedoya hit the post with a shot that ensued from a Jamiro Monteiro free kick.

Columbus got a free kick in the 82nd minute in a dangerous spot, thanks to a questionable Leon Flach foul. Curtin was angry enough about it that you could hear him yelling on the TV broadcast. Zelarayán served it, Bedoya’s attempted header clearance fell to Artur, and Blake made another point-blank denial — then got lucky when Gyasi Zardes headed the rebound over an open net.

Six minutes later, Bedoya smashed a shot from 25 yards at Room, who made a full-stretch dive to punch it out.

The Union kept their focus on defending, but found a few opportunities to break away. One in the 93rd minute saw Santos break free, but Room came off his line to make a kick save of a low shot.

If you’re still upset, consider that the Union had lost their last three games at the Crew, including both visits last year by one-goal margins. Then remember that this was the Union’s only regular-season game in Columbus this year. If they play that well against worse teams, they should put a lot of goals — and wins — on the board.

» READ MORE: A year after winning their first trophy, are the Union good enough for an encore?

“We out-shot them, created better chances tonight, but maybe just didn’t execute in front of goal — and it’s natural in Week 1 of the season,” Curtin said. “It’s not often you get the opportunity to steal a game here and get three points, so you feel a little empty in that regard. But perspective-wise now, you know, 0-0 on the road against the defending champs, not a bad way to start the season.”