Photo credit: @SJEarthquakes

By Pearl Allison Lo

The Colorado Rapids went double on the dramatics, scoring in the 93rd minute to take the match 2-1 over the San Jose Earthquakes at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on Saturday.

Colorado would be the first one to go on a winning streak out of the two teams, as the Rapids won their last game in the 90th minute.

San Jose’s Shea Salinas received a red card in the 88th minute for an elbow to the face of Dillon Serna trailing behind him. This prompted the rest of the players to gather. Serna and Harold Cummings received yellow cards the next minute.

Kellyn Acosta passed forward and Édgar Castillo made the short pass to his right to Bismark Boateng in the box to set up the winner. Boateng then got the two defenders in front of him to fall as he kicked and also Quakes goalie Andrew Tarbell, as the ball rolled in for Boateng’s first career goal since he entered the MLS in 2017.

Game possession stayed at roughly 60% for Colorado and 40% for the Quakes for the match. Shots ended up pretty even, 16-15, respectively.

The Rapids struck first in the 24th minute. Acosta took the corner and Sam Nicholson raced in to receive it and give it back to Acosta, who put the ball in from outside the box, Tommy Smith then headed in the finish. It was Acosta’s first helper for his new team.

San Jose’s attempts by Jahmir Hyka and Vako in the first half went into the hands of Rapids captain Tim Howard.

For the first half, Colorado’s Jack McBean along with San Jose’s Castillo and Danny Hoesen had two shots apiece. A shot on goal apiece went to Smith, McBean, Vako and Salinas.

Vako had another shot on goal that did not make it through–along with a game-high five shots and three shots on goal–and Tarbell made a face-to-face save in the 53nd minute.

In the 58th minute, Guram Kashia drew a penalty and the Quakes finally got past the invisible wall that was connected to Howard, when Magnus Eriksson converted on a penalty kick.

San Jose temporarily had the lead in the 66th minute, but it was taken away for an offside after the ball seemingly deflect in from Vako off Hyka.

Wondolowski then replaced Hyka in the following minute.

Up Next: The Quakes go home to Avaya Stadium for a three-game homestand, starting with Toronto FC next Saturday at 7 pm PDT.