Quakes score, but Rapids earn draw

Home side breaks scoreless drought, but can't finish visitors

Quakes striker Ryan Johnson (top), gave San Jose a brief one goal lead in the 62nd minute. (S. Wolfram/Getty)

Johnson's goal ended the Quakes' latest scoreless streak at 281 minutes, but it wasn't enough to stop the team's winless stretch from reaching six games. Meanwhile, the Rapids extended their modest unbeaten run to two matches.

Both teams named unchanged sides to start the match, a rarity given the Quakes' injury troubles as well as the frequent personnel and tactical changes implemented by Colorado head coach Fernando Clavijo.

There was little evidence of this cohesion in the first ten minutes, as chances were scarce. But then the game crackled to life with the teams exchanging opportunities. An 11th-minute long ball for San Jose forward Kei Kamara appeared set to be cut out by Colorado midfielder Nick LaBrocca, but Kamara managed to get a piece of the ball, forcing Rapids' keeper Bouna Coundoul into a diving save.

Colorado hit straight back a minute later when a long ball found Casey in the clear, but with Quakes goalkeeper Joe Cannon cutting down the angle, the Rapids forward hit his shot wide.

The game then settled down with Colorado's methodical passing game in stark contrast to San Jose's more direct approach. San Jose did create a decent chance in the 26th minute when Kamara's cross was half-cleared to James Riley near the top of the box. Riley elected to let rip from distance and Coundoul did well to tip his shot over the bar.

A long ball out of the back almost paid off for the Quakes in the 37th minute, when Colorado defender Pablo Mastroeni slipped and fell, allowing Johnson to get a clear look at goal. But with the ball on his weaker right foot, Johnson could only hit the side netting.

Colorado's edge in possession finally resulted in good chance for Christian Gomez in the 40th minute, when his surging run saw him test Cannon from 30 yards. The Quakes' keeper was up to the challenge, and he snared Gomez's drive.

The last chance of the half fell to the home side in first-half stoppage time. Johnson held up the ball well on the right side of the box, and showing good vision picked out Ivan Guerrero at the far post. But the ball refused to settle for the Honduran, and Coundoul was able to snuff out the threat.

Colorado began the second half showing a bit more fluidity in attack. McManus just missed finding Gomez with a cross in the 52nd minute. Clark tracked down the loose ball and put in a tantalizing cross, only for the Quakes Eric Denton to provide a vital clearing header.

Sensing that the game was slipping away, San Jose manager Frank Yallop brought on John Cunliffe for Ivan Guerrero as well as Ned Grabavoy for Kelly Gray. And while the change itself didn't have an immediate impact, San Jose pulled ahead shortly after the switches, when Johnson nodded home Ramiro Corrales' free kick in the 62nd minute.

It was the first time the Quakes had enjoyed a lead of any kind since they defeated Columbus 2-0 back on June 7, and they nearly doubled their advantage five minutes later, but Coundoul was on hand to parry away O'Brien's fierce free kick.

That save was to prove vital, as Colorado equalized just three minutes later. Given space on the right wing, Terry Cooke swung in a cross, and despite Casey appearing to climb over the back of a Quakes' defender, he nodded home the delivery to level the score at one.

The frustration of seeing his team come out on the short end such a call was too much for Yallop, who after jawing with referee Hilario Grajeda was given his marching orders, leaving the team in the hands of assistant Ian Russell.

Colorado threatened again in the 80th minute, when substitute Omar Cummings went on a mazy run, but his shot was deflected out by the Quakes' Nick Garcia.

Casey nearly grabbed a stoppage-time winner for the Rapids, but his redirect of Colin Clark's cross was saved by Cannon, and the game ended in a stalemate.

Jeff Carlisle is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.

• Facebook
• Supporter Comments
• Email
• Print

MLSnet.com Comments

• 

  Number of Originals dwindles to one

• 

  Davis: Kreis still has answers for RSL

• 

  Olsen adjusts to 'a whole new animal'

• 

  MLS supports UNICEF's efforts in Haiti