FOXBOROUGH — The Revolution have nearly perfected the art of starting slow in recent years. At least at home.

The Revolution played to a 0-0 tie with D.C. United before 16,102 spectators Saturday, the fourth successive time they have played to a scoreless draw in their Gillette Stadium opener. In fact, the Revolution have not scored in a home opener since the opening minute of 2012, Saer Sene converting in a 1-0 win over Portland.

Part of the reason for the low scoring is opponents’ defensive tactics, D.C. United the latest to play a counterattacking game. The Revolution were able to stifle United’s threats, setting the tone for most of the game, hitting the crossbar in the second half and missing an open net just before the final whistle.

“One of those goes in, then it’s 3- or 4-0,’’ Revolution midfielder Lee Nguyen said. “If not, then it’s 0-0. We were knocking on the door. We kept on pushing the envelope.’’

The Revolution might have felt frustrated after the game, but players kept the situation in perspective. Last season, the Revolution lost their first two games by a combined 7-0 goal differential. And, the Revolution displayed effective defense — opponents have not converted a goal in the team’s Gillette Stadium opener since 2011, when Charlie Davies converted a 91st-minute penalty kick for United, the Revolution winning, 2-1.

Actually, the Revolution seemed prepared to break the low-scoring trend, having produced plenty of offense in a 3-3 tie last week at the Houston Dynamo. But the Revolution failed to finish several opportunities, Nguyen hitting the bar in the 55th minute and Kelyn Rowe firing wide off a Nguyen feed during stoppage time.

The Revolution kicked their game into gear midway through the first half. Teal Bunbury hit the side of the net off a Diego Fagundez layoff in the 24th minute. Je-Vaughn Watson and Nguyen broke through a minute later, Travis Worra clearing.

Davies, who joined the Revolution two years ago, had a bicycle kick blocked in the 29th minute, then departed with a hamstring strain in the 34th minute.

The Revolution (0-0-2, 2 points) threatened several times off set pieces­, captain Jose Gonçalves claiming a penalty after going down in a clash with Steve Birnbaum in the 33d minute, then bouncing a header over the bar in the 37th minute.

Worra, a former University of New Hampshire star, helped solidify the defense for United, recovering from losses to Santos (4-0) in the CONCACAF­ Champions League and the Los Angeles Galaxy (4-1) in the season opener.

Juan Agudelo, who replaced Davies, had two close-in opportunities early in the second half. Nguyen’s shot was saved (79th) off a Watson right-wing advance.

“Their offense, their top six, they’ve been together now for some time,’’ United coach Ben Olsen said. “I think you see their relationships on the ball are better than ours at this point. They’re also at home and they’re used to this turf.’’

The Revolution have not lost a home opener since 2006 (2-1 to Chicago), the year artificial turf was installed.

“Houston was wide open and D.C. played smart and compact, and didn’t give away a lot,’’ Revolution coach Jay Heaps said. “Any time it got in the box, they had 6-7 guys behind the ball. You train all week and prepare for this and I thought we were good enough, up until the final third, the final ball. But I thought we created enough, hit the crossbar, the chance at the end, Juan’s chance. We had some things in there, if we were a little cleaner, would have gone our way, and we would have scored.’’

United (0-1-1, 1 point) had its best chances on a Rob Vincent point-blank drive blocked by Bobby Shuttleworth in the 28th minute, a Luciano Acosta breakaway stopped by Gonçalves in the 58th minute, and a Nick DeLeon half-volley in the 85th minute.

“We knew we were going to get chances, it was just a matter of putting them in,’’ Nguyen said. “First two games of the season, we’re undefeated so far, but obviously it’s tough because you always want 3 points at home.

“The positive thing is a shutout. We’ll move forward, we’ll get back, we know the chances will be there. I think the offense is fine. We created a lot of chances, they just didn’t fall. On another day those chances fall.’’