Neither team gave in between the San Jose Earthquakes and the Colorado Rapids during MLS action at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City on Sat Jul 17, 2021 (@SJEarthquakes photo)

by Marko Ukalovic

COMMERCE CITY, Colo–The San Jose Earthquakes scored early but conceded an equalizer in the second half en route to a 1-1 draw with the Colorado Rapids on Saturday evening at Dick’s Sporting Good Park.

San Jose have earned a point in consecutive road games but it’s winless streak has reached nine matches. Colorado is 6-2-2 in its last 10 matches.

The Quakes (3-7-3) drew first blood early in the first half. Cade Cowell received the ball along the right sideline. The sophomore sensation dribbled into the middle where he found Chofis just outside the box. Chofis moved inside and fired off a left footed shot from 12 yards out into the lower right corner past Rapids goalie William Yarbrough for his third goal of the season in the 11th minute.

For Cowell it was his fourth assist he has tallied. He is the first player in MLS this season to have four goals and four assists. Cowell and Chofis have been creating a good chemistry with each other recently.

“Every coach looks for chemistry and for different players to form partnerships. Chofis is a player that needs to have partnerships. Important things come from Chofis being on the ball. He is scoring and assisting on goals. He is one of our most dangerous players in the offensive phase. Cade keeps growing and yet is still very young. When he improves on the things that I am looking for, he will become a very important player for his club and country. That requires time for him to play, make mistakes, play well or decently. That is the only way for young players to progress and grow,” Quakes head coach Matias Almeyda said.

Chofis believes the sky’s the limit for Cowell’s potential to be a special player.

“I think players in the midfield, especially those in the number 10 role, as I was, need partnerships in order to understand each other, and make goal-scoring passes. Regarding Cade, who is just starting his career, we’re going step by step, and we’ve connected on a couple of goals. I have no doubt that he will develop into a great player in a couple of years. He still has much to learn. He is doing a great job and we need to continue down this path, in which we learn off each other. We also learn from everyone else, especially the coaching staff who take the week to plan goal-scoring plays,” said Chofis.

The Rapids (6-3-3) scored the equalizer in the 53rd minute as a result of momentum they started the second half with. A turnover by the Quakes inside their own zone led to Nicolas Benezet servicing a ball to Cole Bassett who cut onto his left foot from the edge of the penalty area and scored on a low shot just out of the reach of Quakes goalie JT Marcinkowski’s outstretched arms.

In the 70th minute Agustin Zalazar, who interprets for Almeyda, was given a red card and ejected from the match when he kept arguing with the 4th official on the sideline.

The Quakes managed well despite the impact the altitude had on the match. They had a chance to end the game with a win on the match’s final play six minutes into stoppage time. Chris Wondolowski won a free kick from 20 yards out after Jack Price took him down with a hard tackle that resulted in a yellow card for Price.

Wondo’s free kick sailed just over the net ending the match.

“There were moments where the match would go back and forth, and we did not want that. That resulted from a lack of control from both teams. I thought the guys gave it their all. This is the path we must take to move past the situation we are in. We don’t find excuses. We have to keep working, correcting mistakes, and giving the team confidence because the players are the ones that will ultimately see us move forward,” Almeyda said.

Both Marcinkowski and Yarbrough finished the match with one save on two shots on target.

GAME NOTES: San Jose had only one corner kick. Colorado had three.

The Quakes are now 30-23-19 all-time vs. Colorado, including a 13-15-10 away record.

All three of Chofis’ goals this season have been scored in the first 15 minutes of matches.

Cowell leads the Quakes in both goals (4) and assists (4).

Midfielder Shea Salinas wore the captain’s armband for the first time in 2021.

Forward Benji Kikanovic made his first MLS start, playing 45 minutes.

UP NEXT: San Jose finishes its three-game road trip against Sporting Kansas City on Wednesday 7/21 at 5:30pm at Children’s Mercy Park.