Photo: Major League Soccer @MLS Twitter

By Pearl Allison Lo

Although San Jose put forth tons of energy in the first half and fell behind in the 84th minute, they exemplified goonie spirit with seconds, as they escaped a loss to the Colorado Rapids with a 1-1 draw Saturday.

For the fourth time in last seven matches, the Quakes gave up a goal for points past the 70th minute, but unlike their last game against the Montreal Impact, San Jose avoided a loss.

With both teams vying for the final Western Conference playoff spot, it was a bitter result for the Rapids, who were the closer team. Colorado was also on their way to their first win over the Quakes since 2011 and first win at home since 2010. Colorado’s ten game winless streak now matches their 2007 club record.

Atiba Harris, who hit the game-tying goal, entered the game in the 70th minute. The four minutes of stoppage time were key. A long ball came in front of the net from midfield to Matias Perez Garcia. Perez Garcia passed the ball to Harris. After Harris got away from a shirt pull, Harris kicked a stunner into the net against his former team with just seconds left in the game. Harris was cut from the Rapids last year.

In the first half, shots on target were 3-1 for San Jose and Colorado goalie Joe Nasco had four saves to Jon Busch’s one, but fouls were 7-3 against the Quakes. Possession favored the Rapids 56.9% to 43.1%. No San Jose player had more than one shot.

Colorado’s Deshorn Brown led all with five shots. With a lot of space in front, in the 60th minute, he just missed a goal as he curled the ball just shy of the net.

In the 76th minute, Sanchez passed the ball to Brown. Against an approaching Busch, Brown scored, but as the confetti fell, Brown’s goal was taken away because he was offsides.

The Rapids’ Chris Klute couldn’t have chosen much of a better time for his first assist of the season. Dillon Serna got the ball from midfield and passed it to his right as Klute came up behind him. Shaun Francis tried to divert Klute’s shot, but the ball went to Colorado’s Gabriel Torres, who got past Victor Bernardez and put in the ball off Busch’s hands in the 84th minute. Torres led all with two shots on goal.

Both teams still look to end their drought (winless in last ten) and just maybe get into the postseason.

Game notes: Perez Garcia, who started, went down with cramps midfield after his assist. He also had four corner kicks and a shot on goal. The Rapids outshot San Jose 20-11 in the match. Last meeting, the Quakes pulled off 15 shots against Colorado. All three games between the teams this season have been draws. Rapids’  Dillon Powers returned to play after missing last game.  In the second half, shots on target were 3-2 for Colorado, Nasco had one save to Busch’s two, the number of fouls for each team were the exact opposite of the first half and San Jose cut down the Rapids’ possession time. The Quakes next host the Portland Timbers, for a later game than usual, 8pm on October 4.