Donavan Phillip scored his third goal in as many matches before halftime, but the Colorado Rapids settled for a 1-1 draw against the visiting San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday night.
Dave Romney pulled the visitors level after the break in a meeting of Western Conference playoff contenders.
Earl Edwards Jr. made nine saves for the Quakes (13-8-7, 46 points), who remained in fourth place while extending their unbeaten run to seven matches (3-0-4).
Meanwhile, the Rapids (11-13-4, 37 points) extended their home unbeaten run to eight matches (6-0-2). However, they have won only once in their last six games (1-2-3) and could drop one spot to ninth if the LA Galaxy win Sunday at St. Louis City.
A third-round selection in the 2025 MLS SuperDraft, Phillip has received more playing time since Colorado sent Rafael Navarro to St. Louis in a $12 million cash trade near the end of the secondary transfer window.
Phillip extended his scoring streak to three matches in the 27th minute, reaching Paxten Aaronson’s inswinging corner at the back post and heading the ball across the line from close range.
Edwards complained that Colorado’s Josh Atencio had interfered on the play, but referee Filip Dujic did not deem the contact worthy of a foul, and the goal stood.
Romney pulled San Jose level in the 57th minute. Timo Werner sent an outswinging free kick from beyond the right corner of the penalty area across the box.
Ronaldo Vieira won the first ball at the back post and headed it back across the box, where Romney reached it and side-footed a shot that deflected off a defender on its way past Nico Hansen, who made three saves.
Both goalkeepers made exceptional saves to preserve the draw in the closing stages.
Preston Judd forced Hansen into a sprawling save with his left leg from close range in the 82nd minute.
Four minutes later, Edwards sprawled to his left to deny Darren Yapi’s close-range header against the run of play.
San Jose’s Ousseni Bouda thought he had won it in the third minute of second-half stoppage time with a snap shot from close range, but he was ruled offside.
–Field Level Media
