The San Jose Earthquakes and Vancouver Whitecaps FC scored a goal apiece during a seven-minute span in the second half, splitting the points in a 1-1 draw Saturday evening at PayPal Park.
Bruno Gaspar shot the visiting Whitecaps out in front shortly after the second-half restart, giving Vancouver a chance to take what would've been three huge road points as they look to continue their recent surge back into the Western Conference's Audi MLS Cup Playoffs mix. They'd instead settle for one, as Benji Kikanovic found a highlight-reel leveler for San Jose that ended the match on level terms and helped them stave off postseason contention elimination.
The match was scoreless until the 53rd minute when Vancouver jumped on top courtesy of Gaspar's first MLS goal. Brian White created the opportunity with a laser shot from distance that forced JT Marcinkowski into a diving save that spilled in front of goal, allowing Gaspar to deposit the opener for a 1-0 advantage.
It was a short-lived lead, though, as the Quakes equalized right on the hour-mark. Kikanovic did the honors, finding his fourth goal of the season with a clinical first-time volley past Maxime Crepeau at the far post from Cristian Espinoza's pinpoint assist.
The sides pressed for a winner, but none materialized down the stretch. San Jose got tantalizingly close in second-half stoppage time when Carlos Fierro headed a cross back across goal into the path of Chris Wondolowski, but the league's all-time leading goal-scorer couldn't quite make clean contact with his close-range effort and the 1-1 scoreline remained.
Three Things
- THE BIG PICTURE: The Whitecaps will be disappointed to relinquish the lead and a potential three-point result, but Vancouver nonetheless maintain their current perch in the seventh and final postseason spot in the Western Conference standings. The Quakes remain mathematically alive, but with seven points separating them from Vancouver for that final spot, these dropped home points certainly don't do them any favors.
- MOMENT OF THE MATCH: Kikanovic's 60th-minute strike ensured the even result, and it also required delightful technique.
- MAN OF THE MATCH: As has been the case all season, Cristian Espinoza was San Jose's most dangerous player. His delivery set up the equalizer, and the dynamic Argentine is now up to eight assists on the year.
Next Up
- SJ: Saturday, October 30 at Real Salt Lake | 3:30 pm ET (Univision, TUDN, Twitter)
- VAN: Wednesday, October 27 vs. Minnesota United FC | 10 pm ET (MLS LIVE on ESPN+)
