Goalkeepers Tim Melia of Sporting Kansas City and Andre Blake of Philadelphia both returned from injuries and made four saves apiece as their MLS teams played to a 0-0 draw Saturday night in Chester, Pa.
It was the third scoreless draw in six matches for Sporting K.C. (0-3-3, 3 points). The Union (2-3-1, 7 points) failed to win a second consecutive home match after having a 13-match winning streak (including playoffs) at Subaru Park snapped last week.
The start of the match was delayed an hour because of a severe weather warning in the area, with heavy rains and the threat of lightning. The rain stopped by the time the teams took the field though the winds picked up in the second half.
Blake, a three-time MLS Goalkeeper of the Year, returned for the Union after missing the previous two league matches with a groin injury.
Blake was forced to make two saves in the first half. He made a fairly routine diving stop on a 20-yard shot by Erik Thommy in the 11th minute, then was able to knock down a powerful 5-yard header from Dany Rosero in the 37th minute and recovered to grab the rebound.
Blake also made a diving save on Johnny Russell’s 20-yard shot in the 61st minute and was positioned perfectly to cradle Graham Zusi’s 25-yard attempt in the 69th.
Melia, making his season debut after recovering from a hamstring injury, was untested in the first half. Melia charged off his line to knock the ball away from Philadelphia’s Mikael Uhre in the 54th minute.
Melia’s made a leaping stop on a header from Matt Real from just outside the top of the 6-yard box in the 60th minute off a free kick by Daniel Gazdag.
Melia saved Gazdag’s long-range shot in 79th minute and made a diving save on Jakob Glesnes’ attempt from outside the penalty area in second-half stoppage time.
In addition to Melia, Russell made his first start because of a hamstring injury and Alan Pulido came off the bench for his first appearance since 2021 after missing last season following knee surgery.
Kansas City midfielder Nemanja Radoja was forced to leave the match in the 34th minute with an apparent right hamstring injury and was replaced by Roger Espinoza.
–Field Level Media
