By: Eric He

With just three games left in the season, the San Jose Earthquakes needed every possible point. They got just one Saturday night in a 1-1 draw with the Vancouver Whitecaps at Avaya Stadium, but it was pivotal one.

An equalizer by Chris Wondolowski in the 62nd minute salvaged a draw for the Earthquakes and moved them into a tie with the Portland Timbers for the sixth and final playoff position in the West. Both the Earthquakes and Timbers have 44 points, but the Earthquakes — for now — own the tiebreak with a better goal differential. Portland, however, has one more game remaining than San Jose.

The Whitecaps, who are second in the conference with 49 points, struck first on a goal in the 38th minute by Christian Techera, who picked up a loose ball in front, cut it back past two Earthquakes defenders and lofted it over the head of David Bingham.

But when they needed him most, the Earthquakes’ best player delivered. It wasn’t the prettiest of goals, but Wondolowski followed up on a juicy rebounded created off a drive and shot by Cordell Cato, evening the game at 1-1.

It nearly ended in disaster for San Jose, as an errant free kick by Anibal Godoy in the 93rd minute created a two-on-none breakaway for Vancouver. But David Bingham bravely dove and cut off the Whitecaps’ Kekutah Manneh, preserving the game and perhaps the Earthquakes’ playoff hopes.

San Jose has some time off before its next match against Sporting KC on Oct. 16.