The San Jose Earthquakes Starting XI pose for photographers before their match against the Colorado Rapids at PayPal Park on Wednesday OCT 28, 2026. (San Jose Earthquakes)

by Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE — In a game that featured two red cards and four goals, the San Jose Earthquakes and the Colorado Rapids battled to 2-2 draw on Wednesday evening at PayPal Park.

San Jose has earned a point in 10 of their past 11 games. With the draw, San Jose can finish no worse than eighth in the conference, which they would host the play-in-game with against the 9th seed. Colorado has earned a point in five consecutive matches.

San Jose drew first blood in the 15th minute off a set piece. Timo Werner’s corner kick sailed right into the middle of the box where an unmarked Reid Roberts headed the ball under the cross bar and into the back of the net for his fourth goal of the season.

Colorado responded with the equalizer in the 26th minute. Wayne Frederick found Morgan Whittaker in the middle just outside the box. Whittaker dribbled inside before unleashing a low right-footed shot that beat Quakes goalkeeper Angus Gunn to the lower right corner for his fourth goal of the season.

The Rapids had a slight edge in possession in the opening 45 minutes. Goalkeeper Nico Hansen kept the game even with three saves as San Jose had three other opportunities to extend its lead before Whittaker’s goal.

San Jose had an opportunity in the 64th minute for the go-ahead goal when Ousseni Bouda crossed a ball into the middle of the box. Preston Judd’s running header went right into the arms of Hansen for his biggest save of the match.

The match turned in Colorado’s favor when Werner, who was incensed with referee Ramy Touchan, was issued a red card in the 71st minute and ejected from the match. Werner will miss Saturday’s match against Real Salt Lake.

The Rapids took advantage two minutes later when Darren Yapi split two San Jose defenders inside the box and fired a shot past Gunn for his fifth goal of the season in the 73rd minute.

In the 75th minute the match went 10-on-10 when Kosi Thompson was issued a red card and an automatic ejection when he committed a hard, unsportsmanlike foul against Judd.

Quakes midfielder Niko Tsakiris entered the match as a substitute for captain Ronaldo Vieira in the 79th minute as head coach Bruce Arena also brought in Ian Harkes and Jamal Ricketts to inject some fresh legs onto the pitch.

San Jose hit paydirt when it scored the equalizer in the 83rd minute off its second set piece. Tsakiris corner kick went toward the far corner of the net where Jack Jasinski leaped up high from a tough angle and headed the ball past Hansen for his third goal of the season.

Hansen finished with six saves on eight shots on target. Gunn didn’t record a save during the match.

UP NEXT: San Jose hosts Real Salt Lake in its final home match of the regular season on Halloween at 2:00pm.