CHESTER — The rematch of last year’s MLS Cup final Saturday night served as a 90-minute testimonial that the two teams have played far too many games since then.
Nothing happened in a 0-0 draw between the Union and Los Angeles FC at a windy Subaru Park Saturday night, a game in which the visitors didn’t attempt a shot for 73 minutes and neither team recorded a shot on target.
That isn’t hyperbole: The teams combined for six total shots, the fewest in a game in MLS history. The previous record was eight, in a New York Red Bulls-Houston game in 2009. It’s one of three games (Seattle-Dallas in 2015, LA Galaxy-Chicago in 2022) that finished with zero shots on target in league history.
“What should be a great rematch of last year’s final, probably the best final that there’s been, should have a week buildup of hype and fresh players,” manager Jim Curtin said. “That would be ideal. Obviously, the schedule doesn’t allow that. We have a lot of guys with little injuries and knocks here and there. He (LAFC coach Steve Cherundolo) has to keep guys fresh for Campeones Cup. It becomes difficult.”
But the Union (14-8-7, 49 points) got their clean sheet and stayed fourth in the East. It’s the third straight draw this week, so at least points are coming their way in an East where there is no separation.
“I know we want to win every game, but the reality is, that’s a good LAFC team,” Curtin said. “We kept a clean sheet, which is important. And now we’ll move on to Dallas at home.”
The first half was like a 45-minute soccer screensaver: A lot happened to catch the eye, but none of it ultimately was of any substance. There were just three total shots, none by the visitors.
Kai Wagner fired a free kick over the bar in the sixth minute, after Aaron Long saw yellow for throwing his shoulder into Julian Carranza for what on another type of football field looked like targeting. Carranza exited at halftime with dizziness and was in concussion protocol.
Mikael Uhre one-touched a feed from Daniel Gazdag well over the bar from near the penalty spot in the 39th. Nathan Harriel’s cross in first-half stoppage time was blown by the wind toward Maxime Crepeau, who punched away, then Carranza had an attempt blocked. That was it.
Both teams played like they were in the middle of seven games in 22 days, having played Wednesday in Charlotte and St. Louis. LAFC rotated its squad heavily, trying to kill off the first half with as little action as possible before going to the bench. Playing into a stiff wind off the Delaware didn’t help either.
Steve Cherundolo’s team sat deep early, relented 64 percent of the possession and hoped not to concede a goal. It did so by daring Jesus Bueno, starting at the base of the diamond in for the injured Jose Martinez, to pass through them while cutting down the space afforded to Jack McGlynn.
In addition to Martinez, Jakob Glesnes missed out with a groin injury, ending his streak of 101 consecutive MLS starts dating to September 2020.
The Union had the ball in the net in the 52nd and even briefly celebrated. But VAR determined that Uhre was offside in the buildup, before Gazdag headed home the ricochet of Tai Baribo’s volley off the crossbar.
After that came LAFC’s contributions, with Denis Bouanga on at halftime and Carlos Vela in the 70th minute. The first shot came from Jesus Murillo, a deflected header on a corner kick in which the defender wasn’t even looking at goal.
