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Earthquakes 1, Rapids 1

Sep 24, 2009 - 5:03 AM By DALE BUBLITZ STATS MLS Correspondent

COMMERCE CITY, Colo. (STATS) - Conor Casey had just delivered another game-tying goal in added time to help the Colorado Rapids avoid a loss to the San Jose Earthquakes.

But the forward was more subdued than elated.

"It was a good point, given the circumstances, but that was a terrible game for us," Casey said. "We have to a lot better if we want to get where we want to be."

Casey converted a penalty kick in second-half injury time as the Colorado Rapids salvaged a 1-all draw with the San Jose Earthquakes on Wednesday night.

"To come out with a point tonight, was fortuitous." Casey said.

It was the second time in less than a week Casey helped Colorado escape with a point by scoring a goal off a penalty kick at the expense of the Earthquakes. He did it last Friday in San Jose.

"It was a carbon copy," Colorado coach Gary Smith. "It was a carbon copy game where we came away with a point when we felt we should have had three."

The Rapids (10-8-8) were awarded the penalty kick when Omar Cummings was fouled. Casey scored from the spot for his MLS-leading 15th goal, faking San Jose goalkeeper Joe Cannon before scoring easily.

"I went down the middle last time and this time I showed that I was going to his left and I put it the other way," Casey said. "Luckily he dove."

San Jose coach Frank Yallop could only shake his head in disbelief.

"This was deja vu," Yallop said. "It was like Groundhog Day."

Colorado pulled even with Seattle for third in the Western Conference and sixth in the MLS with 38 points. The top two teams from each conference qualify for the playoffs, while the next four highest point totals gain berths as wild cards.

"That's the most important part of the night," said Casey, who set a single-season club record for goals previously held by John Spencer, who scored 14 goals in both 2001 and 2003. "Getting a point is always more important than anything else."

The Rapids are 0-7-3 against the Earthquakes since beating them April 24, 2004.

Preston Burpo started in goal for Matt Pickens for a third consecutive game. Pickens injured his knee two weeks ago in practice.

Chris Wondolowski put San Jose ahead 1-0 with a penalty kick in the 67th minute, beating a diving Burpo.

San Jose (5-12-7) had its road winless streak extended to 20 matches (0-12-8), the second-longest in MLS history to New York's current 24-game run. The Earthquakes have not won away from home since a 2-0 victory at Columbus on June 7, 2008.

"We're getting closer to ending it and we feel like it will happen every time we come to the stadium," Wondolowski said. "Tonight, we played well for over 89 minutes and didn't get it done."

Each team had quality scoring chances in the first half. Wondolowski missed an open net early and forced Burpo to come off his line to knock away the ball in the 44th minute.

Cannon smothered a header by Nick LaBrocca's from just outside the right post, and Omar Cummings placed a shot wide in the 22nd minute.

Colorado picked up the pressure in the 60th minute as Pablo Mastroeni placed a shot over the crossbar before Cannon prevented Casey from latching onto a through ball and a cross in a three-minute span.

San Jose countered with pressure that ended with Wondolowski's goal.

Rapids midfielder Jacob Peterson left in the 10th minute with an injured right knee.

"I still don't much about the extent of the injury," said Peterson, who was on crutches after the game. "I'll know more in the morning."