Columbus Crew went into Q2 Stadium and ensured that that historic first home goal continues to elude Austin FC, as the Black & Gold came away with a road point as part of a 0-0 draw on Sunday night from Austin.
As part of the second-ever match at the expansion side's new stadium, the hosts were on the offensive early in the first half, holding nearly 60 percent of the possession and firing off 12 shots to Columbus' seven, but couldn't quite convert any of them into an opening goal. Diego Fagundez had perhaps the best of those opportunities just after the match kicked off, but the former New England Revolution man narrowly missed the target with a laser shot that was set up by a feed from teammate Jared Stroud.
The Crew came inches from an opener shortly after second-half kickoff off a distance shot from Lucas Zelarayan that took a wicked deflection and looked bound for goal, only to be denied by a sprawling save from Austin goalkeeper Brad Stuver.
Columbus also had another golden opportunity in the 74th minute off a Zelarayan free-kick that found Gyasi Zardes right in front of goal, setting up a close-range attempt for the US international, but Stuver came through again with a reaction save that somehow kept the match scoreless.
That would be the closest opportunity either team would have before the full-time whistle, save for one half-chance from Austin's Cecilio Dominguez, and the match ended in the scoreless draw.
