The San Jose Earthquakes and the Houston Dynamo played to a 1-1 draw in one of the more thrilling games this season at Pay Pal Park in San Jose Sat Jul 24, 2021’s game was the only home game the Quakes would play in the month of July (USA Today photo)

by Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE—The soccer gods have had no love for the San Jose Earthquakes.

A controversial offsides call negated what would have been the winning goal for the San Jose Earthquakes in the third minute of stoppage time in the second half. Instead the Quakes had to settle for a 1-1 draw with the Houston Dynamo on Saturday evening at Pay Pal Park.

Carlos Fierro sent in a free kick into the middle of the box where Andy Rios had tapped it into the far right corner of the net. As the team celebrated what they thought was the go ahead goal, the assistant referee on the right sideline ruled the play was offsides.

San Jose has drawn a point in four consecutive matches but extended its season long winless steak to 11 games. Houston is 0-2-2. in its past four matches.

Houston (3-4-8) drew first blood late in the first half. A free kick from the left side was headed back toward the middle of the pitch by Oswaldo Alanís. Matías Vera collected the ball and fired a low liner of a shot that beat Quakes goalie JT Marcinkowski just inside the right corner for his first goal of the season in the 40th minute.

San Jose (3-7-5) answered back in the fifth minute of stoppage time. Shea Salinas won a free kick along the left endline. Cristian Espinoza serviced the ball into the middle of box where Zarek Valentin accidentally kicked into his own net for an own goal.

The action pack first half saw the Quakes saw San Jose dominate in possession with a 70%-30% margin.

Marcinkowski had a busy opening 45 minutes as he made four saves, two of those were diving stops.

In the second half, both teams came out aggressive as the physical play resulted in tempers flaring with several skirmishes resulting after hard fouls by both sides.

San Jose had a chance to gain the lead in the 87th minute, when they drilled in a low cross that would’ve been a tap in, but Dynamo goalkeeper Marko Marić footed away the ball which swept the ball away from danger.

Maxi Urruti made a bad tackle on Fierro with a minute left in stoppage time resulting in yellow card issued. Fierro frustrated by the foul, retaliated against Urruti with a kick and swing, that resulted in a red card and automatic ejection from the match.

Fierro will be suspended for the next match against the Seattle Sounders.

Marić finished the match with two saves. Marcinkowski made fives saves on six shots.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished with three corner kicks. Houston had five.

The Dynamo beat San Jose, 2-1, in Houston in the season opening match in April. The Dynamo have won six of its last ten against the Earthquakes but have managed just one win in their last six trips to San Jose (D1 L3).

Houston has won four of its last 28 MLS matches (D12 L12) with all four wins coming at home. Houston is winless in 16 straight on the road (D7 L9), the second-longest away winless run in club history (20 straight from July 2015 to August 2016).

Chris Wondolowski has scored just two times in 19 career appearances against the Dynamo. His 0.13 goals per 90 minutes against Houston is the lowest against any team he’s played 100 or more minutes against in his MLS career.

UP NEXT: San Jose heads back out on the road as the travel to Seattle to take on the Sounders on Saturday 7/31 at 2:00pm at Lumen Field.