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Julian Carranza had two goals and Daniel Gazdag scored twice on penalty kicks as the host Philadelphia Union defeated the Columbus Crew 4-1 Saturday night in Chester, Pa., in the opener for both teams.

Patrick Schulte made his MLS debut in goal for the Crew.

Gazdag tied it 1-1 late in the first half then extended the lead to 3-1 in the 72nd minute. On each, Schulte went to his right as Gazdag, who had 22 goals last season, shot the opposite way.

Schulte, 21, played because Eloy Room, who started every match last season, is working on securing a green card and was unavailable.

The Union have a 24-game home unbeaten streak dating to Sept. 3, 2021, including a 12-0-5 record last season.

Columbus took a 1-0 lead in the 28th minute on an own goal by Union defender Jakob Glesnes before Gazdag tied it in third minute of first-half stoppage time. Carranza scored in the 52nd minute to make it 2-1. He was 6 yards in front of the goal to convert a cross by Alejandro Bedoya.

After Gazdag scored following a handball to Milos Degenek, Carranza made it 4-1 in the 80th minute. Gazdag was awarded the secondary assist.

Columbus missed the playoffs for the second straight year in 2022 and fired coach Caleb Porter and replaced him with Wilfried Nancy, who led Montreal to a second-place finish in the Eastern Conference last season.

The Crew had not scored in the previous five matches against Philadelphia but got a little help to end the 484-minute drought.

Cucho Hernandez put a shot toward goal that teammate Alex Matan could not reach but the ball clipped the foot of Glesnes and goalkeeper Andre Blake was unable to react in time to the slight redirection.

Philadelphia made it 1-1 when Gazdag, scored from the spot to give him a goal in eight consecutive games home games after Mo Farsi was called for a handball.

The goal was the final kick of the opening half.

–Field Level Media