yet another demoralizing, last-second draw with the Colorado Rapids.
San Jose was just moments away from notching its first road victory of the season when ill fortune struck the club once again. Four days after having a late 1-0 lead erased at home against the Rapids by a controversial penalty kick in stoppage time, the same scenario played out yet again at Dick's Sporting Goods Park.
With the Earthquakes holding a 1-0 lead in the waning moments, San Jose defender Jason Hernandez was whistled for a hard takedown of Rapids forward Omar Cummings along the end line. Just as he did on Saturday, Colorado's Conor Casey converted the penalty kick to secure a 1-1 draw and force the visiting Earthquakes to settle for one point instead of three.
"It's like 'Groundhog Day' for us," Yallop said. "But it maybe could have been a penalty (earlier) on Casey's header. But, you know, Colorado had their chances tonight, especially early. I think, for us, it was a terrific road performance. It would have been lovely to come away with three points. We've had I don't know how many games away from home like this.
"We lost on an own goal at Salt Lake in the last second of the game. Dallas, we did the same. Chicago, the last five minutes we conceded two goals. So, we're close. I think the building blocks are there to be a solid team."
On Saturday, the Earthquakes also were in line for a 1-0 win against the Rapids when Ryan Johnson was penalized for hauling down Drew Moor in the area, allowing Casey to tie the match on a penalty kick.
On Wednesday, it was Hernandez who was victimized, making a hard slide tackle against Cummings along the end line during Colorado's furious late assault at a tying goal.
"I was talking to one of the guys saying I feel like I'm in one of those cartoons where the cloud of rain follows you wherever you go," Wondolowski said. "That's kind of what we feel like right now. If we didn't have bad luck, I don't think we'd have any luck at all. Granted, you make your own luck. We have to play a full 90 minutes and we've played about 89 and a half the last two games. That's on us."
San Jose remained one of two Major League Soccer clubs without a road win this season (0-8-3) but was on track to end that drought after finally getting a break with the officials midway through the second half.
San Jose received a fortuitous bounce in the 67th minute when a long, arcing free kick dropped into the middle of the Rapids' penalty box. The deflected ball flicked off the arm of a Rapids player during the ensuing scramble, and referee Ricardo Salazar immediately called the foul, awarding a penalty kick to San Jose.
Wondolowski converted the attempt, blasting a line drive under the crossbar to beat Rapids goalkeeper Preston Burpo. It was the seventh goal of the season for Wondolowski and his fourth since San Jose acquired him in a June 9 trade with Houston.
Despite struggling to generate chances, particularly in the first half, Wondolowski's penalty kick and the work of San Jose goalkeeper Joe Cannon had the Earthquakes in position for the win. Cannon, who spent four seasons with Colorado and remains the club's all-time leader in games started by a goalkeeper, was credited with two saves, including a deft grab of a Casey header attempt in the 64th minute.
"I think Joe Cannon is playing excellent," said Yallop, whose club continues its road trip at D.C. United on Sunday. "If you look at our record over the last three months, we are just missing maybe that killer instinct in games where if we had someone who'd maybe make a difference off the bench, we would have pulled the games off. But we didn't, and we couldn't."
The draw kept the Earthquakes mired in last place in the Western Conference, though it improved their point total to 22, five behind FC Dallas going into this weekend's action. The Earthquakes have won only two of 10 matches since July 1 (2-4-4) but realize they are just a few bad breaks and lucky bounces away from experiencing what would be a confidence-boosting breakthrough.
"I really think that we are finding our stride now in this locker room," Wondolowski said. "I wish it was earlier in the season instead of the last stretch. But to be honest, I believe this is a good core group that we have, top to bottom. We fight for each other and we play a decent style of soccer, too. It's fun to play for each other, I just wish we could get a win.
"I don't think we've quite put our fingers on (the road record). I think maybe we do tense up a little bit and do draw up a little too deep in those last seconds. We're in our own box, so if we do commit a foul, it's a PK. It happened the last two games."
San Jose (5-12-7) played without midfielder Arturo Alvarez, who missed his second consecutive game due to a hamstring injury.
Pat Rooney is a contributor to MLSnet.com.
