Déjà vu for Quakes in draw with Rapids

San Jose misses out on first road win following second straight injury-time PK

On Wednesday, it was déjà vu all over again.

The Earthquakes, who saw Conor Casey score the equalizer from the penalty spot five minutes into stoppage time at home just six days earlier, again saw a victory slip away in added time the same way it did on Saturday -- on a penalty kick by Casey just moments before the final whistle that allowed the teams to finish in a 1-1 draw.

San Jose appeared destined to notch its first road victory of the season after Chris Wondolowski put the Earthquakes ahead on a penalty kick in the 67th minute.

The Earthquakes, who entered the night having played the fewest matches in Major League Soccer, improved their point total to 25, moving four points behind FC Dallas at the bottom of the Western Conference standings going into Sunday's match at D.C. United.

San Jose had seen two additional points slip away on Saturday when a penalty was called on Ryan Johnson late during added time of what had been a 1-0 game, allowing Casey to secure the draw on a penalty kick.

On Wednesday, the Earthquakes struggled to generate chances, particularly in the first half, but were the recipients of a fortuitous bounce midway through the second half when a long, arcing free kick dropped into the middle of the Rapids penalty area in the 67th minute.

The ball flicked off the arm of Rapids midfielder Pat Noonan during the ensuing scramble, and referee Ricardo Salazar immediately made the call, awarding a penalty kick to San Jose.

Wondolowski beat Rapids goalkeeper Preston Burpo with a line drive under the crossbar for his seventh goal of the season and his third since joining San Jose in a June 9 trade with Houston.

Earthquakes goalkeeper Joe Cannon, who remains the Rapids' all-time leader in starts by a goalie (85) after spending the 2003 through 2006 seasons with the club, made a nifty save on a redirect header attempt by Casey in the 64th minute to preserve the scoreless tie and set up Wondolowski's penalty kick.

But again the Earthquakes were victimized by a late whistle, as defender Jason Hernandez was whistled for a penalty after a sliding tackle of Colorado's Omar Cummings. Again Casey took the Rapids' late penalty kick, dooming San Jose to settle for a tie and one point after having three points within its grasp.

San Jose, along with New York, remains one of two winless teams on the road in MLS (0-8-3).

Both teams return to action this weekend on the road, the Rapids traveling to Kansas City for a Saturday night contest against the Wizards, and San Jose meeting D.C. United on Sunday afternoon.

Pat Rooney is a contributor to MLSnet.com.

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