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Union remain undefeated with 1-0 victory against Columbus Crew

It's the best start to the season that the Union have ever had in their history.

Alejandro Bedoya, left, and Julián Carranza of the Philadelphia Union after a goal in the first minute of play against Eloy Room, center, of Columbus during their game on April 9, 2022, at Subaru Stadium in Chester, PA. It was the only goal of the game.
Alejandro Bedoya, left, and Julián Carranza of the Philadelphia Union after a goal in the first minute of play against Eloy Room, center, of Columbus during their game on April 9, 2022, at Subaru Stadium in Chester, PA. It was the only goal of the game.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
    by Joe Tansey, For The Inquirer
    Published 

The Union defeated the Columbus Crew, 1-0, on Saturday night inside Subaru Park, proving an important point. The Union excel at winning low-scoring, boring soccer games.

That is a compliment of the highest order for a team coached by Jim Curtin, a former center back in Major League Soccer.

The lone goal came in the second minute on a mystifying error by Crew goalkeeper Eloy Room.

Room went up to catch a cross at the left post and volleyballed it over the goal line for an own goal.

The error was the second major screw up by an opposing goalkeeper defending the River End in two weeks.

Charlotte FC goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina passed the ball right to Daniel Gazdag for the second goal of last Saturday’s victory.

Room’s error was all the Union needed to come away with three points, their fifth consecutive victory and fourth straight clean sheet.

The back line of Kai Wagner, Jakob Glesnes, Jack Elliott and Nathan Harriel held the visiting Crew to four shots on goal from their 19 attempts.

The defensive collective silenced Crew starting forward Miguel Berry, who managed two off-target shots on target. Substitute forward Gyasi Zardes did not offer much going forward either.

Columbus’ majority of attempts came from long range, most of which were misguided.

The one that came closest to threatening Andre Blake was a free kick launched by Lucas Zelarayan late in the first half.

» READ MORE: Dániel Gazdag is on a hot streak with the Union

Blake tipped the ball over the bar and appeared to hurt part of his left arm in the process. Blake flexed his left shoulder before the halftime whistle and did not show any effects of the injury in the second half.

Blake was not significantly tested in the second half. The only scare came on a Crew counter attack in the middle of the half. Columbus started with a five-versus-two advantage, but Elliott, Glesnes and others raced back to quell the move before a significant chance was created.

The Union have not conceded a goal since the 32nd minute of their second game against CF Montreal.

Philadelphia enters next Saturday’s clash with Toronto FC with a 418-minute shutout streak and two goals conceded overall this season. The shutout streak is now the longest in club history. The previous one lasted 408 in 2012. It was a franchise-record fifth straight win.