The San Jose Earthquakes starting XI pose for a picture before the start of the match against the Vancouver Whitecaps at PayPal Park that resulted in a 1-1 draw on Saturday MAY 9, 2026. (San Jose Earthquakes)

by Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE — In a battle for the top spot in the Western Conference, the San Jose Earthquakes and the Vancouver Whitecaps battled to a 1-1 draw on Saturday evening at PayPal Park.

San Jose extended its point streak to eight matches. Vancouver extended its point streak to six matches.

San Jose (9-1-2-29 points) drew first blood int he fourth minute. Paul Marie, who made his first start for head coach Bruce Arena, threaded a pass out to Preston Judd in stride inside the box. The veteran forward one-timed the ball into the right corner of the net past Whitecaps goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka for his team leading eighth goal of the season.

Vancouver (8-1-2-26 points) had a chance to even the match in the 29th minute when midfielder Jeevan Baldwal had a point-blank shot all alone inside the six-yard box, but Quakes goalkeeper Daniel knocked the ball away from danger.

Benji Kikanovic was issued a yellow card in the 36th minute after a ticky-tack foul was called on him just outside the box. Daniel was then also issued a yellow card for arguing the call with referee Malik Badawi.

Despite controlling the possession battle by a two-thirds to one margin and outshooting San Jose 6-2, Vancouver wasn’t able to generate many quality scoring chances in the opening 45 minutes.

Vancouver came out with vengeance in the second half as the dominated play from the opening minute all the way till stoppage time. They controlled the possession and kept the Quakes from counterattacking as they won the majority of the 50/50 balls. San Jose had a tough time dealing the Whitecaps physicality as the match ensued.

Daniel came up with three big saves in a span of three minutes. First in the 55th minute he knocked away a shot from 15 yards by Andres Cubas after being setup by Emmanuel Sabbi. Then in 57th minute he stoned away back-to-back chances inside the box by Bruno Caicedo and Badwal.

Vancouver finally broke through with the equalizer in the 76th minute. Sabbi found Sebastian Berhalter all alone along the right side of the box and Berhalter finished off a right-footed shot past Daniel for his fourth goal of the season, tied for second on the team with Tomas Muller who sat out the match with an illness.

Daniel finished the match stopping four of the five shots on target to earn the draw with his fellow keeper Takaoka who made two saves on three shots on target.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished the match with two corner kicks. Vancouver had four.

UP NEXT: San Jose travels up to the Pacific Northwest to take on the Seattle Sounders on Wednesday May 13 at 6:30pm at Lumen Field.