Red Bulls, Nashville open season scoreless
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Nashville’s Joe Willis and Carlos Coronel of the New York Red Bulls both opened the season with clean sheets in a scoreless season opener on Sunday.
Willis had three of his four saves in the first half for Nashville. Coronel did not face a shot on target before intermission. Coronel wasn’t tested until he saved a header by Teal Bunbury in the 58th minute. He finished with three saves.
The Red Bulls’ Franuel Amaya hit the cross bar on a shot in the 63rd minute.
New York improves to 2-0-3 all time versus Nashville and 13-10-6 in all time in openers.
The last time these two clubs squared off John Tolkin scored on a late penalty kick in a 1-0 victory on Decision Day, sending the Red Bulls to the playoffs for a league-record 14th straight season.
The Red Bulls stay on the road to play the Houston Dynamo on Saturday.
Nashville travels to play the Colorado Rapids on Saturday.
Toronto FC 0, FC Cincinnati 0: At Cincinnati, Sean Johnson made seven saves and Toronto FC played FC Cincinnati to a scoreless draw in a season opener.
Johnson turned away four shots in the second half to earn the clean sheet for Toronto, which has opened a season on the road in six straight and 16 of its 17 seasons since joining the league. Toronto snapped a four-game losing streak to Cincinnati.
Roman Celentano made one save in each half in his shutout effort for Cincinnati — winners of the Supporters’ Shield last season.
It was the first tie in 11 meetings between the two clubs. Cincinnati leads the series 6-4-1 and is 3-0-1 since moving to TQL Stadium. Toronto has never scored at the venue, while Cincinnati had scored multiple goals in its three previous shutout victories.