Toronto FC tied Columbus Crew SC 0-0 in Game 1 of the MLS Eastern Conference final, surviving to fight another day.
It was hardly a masterpiece but Toronto got the job done. And top-seeded TFC will be able to roll out its big guns _ Jozy Altidore and Sebastian Giovinco _ back from suspension when the series switches to BMO Field.
Fifth-seeded Columbus came close late, but Toronto 'keeper Alex Bono made a huge save in the 85th minute, denying Harrison Afful from in close and substitute Ke-kuta Manneh's shot off the rebound was blocked.
Toronto offered little on offence, with a patient safety-first approach that cleared the decks for the series rematch.
The second of two legs of the aggregate-goals series is November 29 at Toronto's BMO Field.