San Jose Earthquakes 1-1 Colorado Rapids

^{Ryan Johnson scored for the Quakes and provoked a last minute penalty for the Rapids - Photo: Nap/TheProjectFC} 

The San Jose Earthquakes almost did everything right tonight. They just couldn't score a second goal out of many counter attack opportunities they had in the second half, which allowed Colorado to keep hope, fight until the end and finally be rewarded with a penalty kick in the last minute of stoppage time.

Until the 93rd minute, the Quakes had been the better team. They started the game with a lot of energy and created their first clear chance after only 2 minutes when Andre Luiz headed a high ball at the near post toward Salinas, alone at the 18. the right winger's beautiful volley ended up on Preston Burpo's opposite post.

Only 6 minutes later, Brandon McDonald took a throw on the left side directly inside the box to Ryan Johnson at the near post. The Quakes' forward, seeing Burpo hesitating halfway between his goal line and the ball lobbed Colorado's keeper and scored the first goal of the game (1-0, 8')

San Jose continued dominating the first half. Colorado had a better period between the 15^th and the 30^th minute but nothing really threatening for the locals. Cornell Glen, Shea Salinas and Bobby Convey were animating the game while Jason Hernandez, with the help of Andre Luiz, was containing Conor Casey. The tall and strong Colorado target man didn't have an easy game and San Jose's defenders won the physical challenge.

Both teams had ups and downs in the second half, but the Quakes seemed to be in control of the situation most of the time. Despite a miraculous double save by Cannon in the 68^th minute in front of Casey and Cummings, they even had more chances to double their lead than Colorado had opportunities to equalize.

They may have started playing lower on the field too early (The Quakes clearly took a more defensive approach after Cornell Glen's substitution¹ in the 59^th minute), but until this 93^rd minute, the Quakes had been the better team, dominating the first half and defending very well in the second.

However they never scored this second goal that could have prevented any late hazard and what often happens when you don't kill the game happened.

If the visitors' physical style, mostly made of long balls to Casey, wasn't pretty to watch, they at least had the capacity to stay in the game and believe they could get something out of it until the end.

After another long ball, they obtained their 9^th corner kick. All the Rapids' players, including Preston Burpo, their goalkeeper, were in the box, desperate to create confusion in the locals' defense.

^{Conor Casey scored on a penalty in the last minute of stoppage time - Photo: Nap/TheProjectFC} 

They managed to do so by deflecting the ball toward the 6-yard line were Ryan Johnson, trying to clear, caught a Drew Moor's shoulder with his arm. The Rapids' defender immediately collapsed and Mr Jurisevic (tonight's referee) called a penalty kick. Casey, who hadn't had a brilliant game so far, didn't miss the kick (1-1, 90'+3)

After the game, Frank Yallop and most of the players wanted to insist on the team's overall good performance.

They couldn't escape questions about the penalty though: "After seeing it again, I thought it was a penalty. He [Ryan Johnson] did put his hand on his shoulder and the player (Drew Moor) went down. It’s a tough result because we put so much into the match. To tie on the last kick of the game is tough tonight".

¹ Glen was having a good game until he received a knock on his right knee.

Post game interviews:

Frank Yallop:

Joe Cannon: