In a game both teams needed to win, the San Jose Earthquakes and New York Red Bulls had to settle for a 1-1 draw on a sunny Sunday afternoon at Buck Shaw Stadium. The Red Bulls were gifted an early own goal, but one of the Earthquakes' new signings, Darren Huckerby, equalized nine minutes later.
Both teams were desperate for three points as they attempt to climb back into playoff contention. Going into the game the Red Bulls sat tied for sixth in the Eastern Conference with 21 points, while the San Jose Earthquakes sat in seventh place in the West with 14 points.
With Dane Richards injured, New York came out with a 4-5-1, as Hunter Freeman filled in at right back. Juan Pietravallo made his first start in central midfield as newcomer Jorge Rojas was again installed in the playmaking midfield position; Juan Pablo Angel was the lone striker.
The only change in the Earthquakes starting lineup that faced Toronto last weekend was Nick Garcia, returning to central defense and replacing James Riley on the back line. Francisco Lima and Scott Sealy, along with Huckerby three new additions to the Earthquakes squad since the team last played in California, all were again given starts.
Just four minutes into the game the Red Bulls scored, with a lot of help from the Earthquakes. Dave van den Bergh's long cross from left midfield looked relatively harmless as San Jose defender Eric Denton played it on the bounce inside the penalty area, but Denton's header back to Joe Cannon floated over the goalkeeper's head and into the net.
The Earthquakes got that goal back in the 13th minute. A Ronnie O'Brien throw in found Sealy in the box with his back to the goal. Sealy turned and shot left footed from 10 yards out. Jon Conway made the initial save, but Darren Huckerby pounced on the rebound, scoring his first MLS goal to tie the game at 1-1.
San Jose had most of the chances the rest of the way, but neither team could break through for the deciding goal. Twice, Jeff Parke made sliding tackles to stop an Earthquakes forward breaking in alone on goal. Parke's heroics stopped Ryan Johnson in the 22nd minute and Sealy in the 79th.
The Red Bulls tried to add some offensive spark by brining in John Wolyniec as a striker alongside Angel at the start of the second half, but New York still struggled going forward.
New York's best scoring chance came in the 87th minute, after John Wolyniec spun past two defenders and broke in on goal from the left side of midfield. Wolyniec set up Mike Magee for a shot, but his effort from the top of the box went straight to goalkeeper Cannon.
Jon Conway had a good game in goal for New York, making perhaps his best save on what would have been an own goal. Magee tried to block a Ronnie O'Brien cross in the 73rd minute, and the ball deflected on goal. An alert Conway made a reflex save to keep the game even.
New York now returns home for a string of three Sunday games at Giants Stadium, while San Jose prepares to play host to the Los Angeles Galaxy next Sunday at McAfee Coliseum in Oakland.
Pete Ratajczak is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
