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Andre Blake has 8 saves, Union play Red Bulls to scoreless draw

The Union's star goalkeeper helped his team steal a point on the road.

Philadelphia Union goalkeeper Andre Blake made eight saves in a scoreless draw at the New York Red Bulls.
Philadelphia Union goalkeeper Andre Blake made eight saves in a scoreless draw at the New York Red Bulls.Read moreYong Kim/Staff Photographer

Andre Blake made eight saves as the Union managed a scoreless draw against the New York Red Bulls at Red Bull Arena on Sunday afternoon.

It was the first shutout for the Union (8-12-9, 33 points) since July 27, and the team's eighth of the season.

Blake denied Gonzalo Verón three times in the first half — on a breakaway in the 32nd and on a close-range redirection in the 40th.

The Red Bulls didn't start many of their big names, as they're playing in the U.S. Open Cup final at Sporting Kansas City on Wednesday (9 p.m., ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes). Sacha Kljestan and Bradley Wright-Phillips entered as second-half substitutes and nearly combined on a goal in the 77th minute.

Kljestan's free kick from the edge of the 18-yard box was punched away by Blake and Wright-Phillips' rebound attempt was deflected by Blake's foot and cleared off the line by Chris Pontius.

Blake was two saves shy of tying his career high, set against the New England Revolution on Sept. 26, 2015.

"I said to myself, 'If I'm able to stop them from scoring, whatever it takes, will be very good for us because we could get one goal and then win the game,'" Blake said. "So, I just tried to stay in the game mentally and I was able to make some big plays."

The Union had a few chances in the second half to get that goal Blake hoped for, but they weren't able to convert any of them.

"In the first half, we just weren't up to the challenges — the second half, we responded a little bit, rolled our sleeves up," Union manager Jim Curtin said. "The guys hung in there and fought for a point. … Again, these are results now, on the road in recent weeks where if we did our work early on in the season, they would be positive results. But right now as we chase from behind, it's difficult."

This article contains information from the Associated Press.