Casey converts penalty kick in injury time to lift Rapids to 1-1 tie with Earthquakes

Casey lifts Rapids to tie with Earthquakes

COMMERCE CITY, Colo. — Conor Casey converted a penalty kick in second-half injury time as the Colorado Rapids salvaged a 1-all draw with the San Jose Earthquakes on Wednesday night.

The Rapids (10-8-8) were awarded the penalty kick when Omar Cummings was fouled. Casey scored from the spot for his MLS-leading 15th goal, faking San Jose goalkeeper Joe Cannon before scoring easily.

Colorado pulled even with Seattle for third in the Western Conference and sixth in the MLS with 38 points. The top two teams from each conference qualify for the playoffs, while the next four highest point totals gain berths as wild cards.

The Rapids are 0-7-3 against the Earthquakes since beating them April 24, 2004.

Preston Burpo started in goal for Matt Pickens for a third consecutive game. Pickens injured his knee two weeks ago in practice.

Chris Wondolowski put San Jose ahead 1-0 with a penalty kick in the 67th minute, beating a diving Burpo.

San Jose (5-12-7) had its road winless streak extended to 20 matches (0-12-8), the second-longest in MLS history to New York’s current 24-game run. The Earthquakes have not won away from home since a 2-0 victory at Columbus on June 7, 2008.

Each team had quality scoring chances in the first half. Wondolowski missed an open net early and forced Burpo to come off his line to knock away the ball in the 44th minute.

Cannon smothered a header by Nick LaBrocca’s from just outside the right post, and Omar Cummings placed a shot wide in the 22nd minute.

Colorado picked up the pressure in the 60th minute as Pablo Mastroeni placed a shot over the crossbar before Cannon prevented Casey from latching onto a through ball and a cross in a three-minute span.

San Jose countered with pressure that ended with Wondolowski’s goal.

Rapids midfielder Jacob Peterson left in the 10th minute with an injured right knee.

Story from: STATS LLC, www.stats.com.