just 13 minutes apart -- as the home side took the lead. Kreis first converted from the penalty spot as Eddie Robinson bundled over Brian Dunseth from behind while challenging for a cross, San Jose 'keeper Pat Onstad going the right way but just unable to push the shot outside of the post (21).
• Kreis then scored on the end of a quick counterattack, launched by a rampaging run right down the center of the park by Clint Mathis. Mathis slipped a pass to Kreis steaming on his left, and the all-time MLS goal scorer added to his record by hammering a low shot through Onstad's legs.
• But after having seen late goals cost them points on three occasions this season, this time it was the Earthquakes who provided a late decider. Brian Mullan served up a looping cross from the right flank to the far post where substitute Alejandro Moreno neatly headed home to give the visitors a share of the spoils.
• Here's John Ellinger's team (4-3-2-1): D.J. Countess - Rusty Pierce, Matt Behncke, Brian Dunseth, Nelson Akwari - Brian Kamler - Chris Brown (Evan Whitfield 80), Clint Mathis, Andy Williams (Leighton O'Brien 66), Leslie Fitzpatrick - Jason Kreis
• Here's Dominic Kinnear's team (4-3-1-2): Pat Onstad - Craig Waibel, Troy Dayak, Eddie Robinson, Wade Barrett (Ricardo Clark 72) - Brian Mullan, Danny O'Rourke, Brad Davis - Dwayne De Rosario - Brian Ching, Ronald Cerritos (Alejandro Moreno 65)
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES
The San Jose Earthquakes played to a draw for the second consecutive week, their current winless run extending to three matches with a 1-1 draw with Chivas USA at The Home Depot Center on Sunday evening. The Earthquakes remain in third place in the Western Conference with 15 points from 12 matches, still eight behind second-place Los Angeles, four ahead of fourth-place Real Salt Lake and nine out of first.
• Chivas USA saw their winless run extend to seven matches, but still came back to claim a second draw with the Earthquakes on the season.
• A quick counter-attack gave the visitors the lead just before the end of the first half. Dwayne De Rosario hit a ball over the Chivas back three and Alejandro Moreno raced to collect it before sliding it past Brad Guzan in the Chivas goal (40).
• But after some intense pressure, Chivas finally leveled the match when Ramon Ramirez's pinpoint cross from the left was turned home at the back post by Ezra Hendrickson (66).
• Chivas had twice hit the post - a clear header from Isaac Romo and a powerful free kick from Francisco Mendoza - though the 'Quakes had one of their own come off the woodwork when Mark Chung's header hit the bar. San Jose then had an apparent stoppage-time match-winner from De Rosario controversially ruled out for offside.
• "I think we got robbed at the end, but having said that, there is no way we should have come out of here without three points," said the Canadian international. "It's very disappointing to draw against Chivas especially when we're up 1-0 and we have possession and we're outplaying them in the second half. If we would have converted more of our chances it could have easily been 4-1."
• Quakes boss Dominic Kinnear made no changes in his team for the fourth consecutive match. Here's Kinnear's team (4-3-1-2): Pat Onstad - Chris Aloisi, Danny Califf, Eddie Robinson (Ryan Cochrane 75), Wade Barrett - Mark Chung (Julian Nash 76), Ricardo Clark, Brad Davis - Dwayne De Rosario - Ronald Cerritos (Wes Hart 81), Alejandro Moreno
• "It's disappointing to draw twice with Chivas, especially with the way the games have gone," said Kinnear. "It was a good chance to open up some space but I can't fault the guys for effort or for creating chances. It's just that last little touch that we needed to be more deadly today."
TEAM NEWS
• After seeing Brian Ching go down with an injury, the Earthquakes have scored just two goals in the 4 ½ games since. Since Ching was injured May 14 v Dallas, the first-choice strike partnership has been comprised of Ronald Cerritos and Alejandro Moreno - which provides a different look than one containing the burly Ching.
• "I think there's added pressure on everyone with guys injured," said De Rosario, moved into the attacking midfield role on April 30 v Real Salt Lake. "But when it comes down to chances, we have to finish them and when it comes to giving up goals, we have to stop giving up goals."
• Said Kinnear: "Not scoring goals is a stat. But we're still being creative and that's very positive. Dwayne and Ricardo [Clark] were moving the ball well, and wide midfielders Mark [Chung] and Brad [Davis] were pitching in nicely.''
• The Earthquakes now return home for three consecutive matches, facing the Los Angeles Galaxy next Saturday then the Colorado Rapids the following Wednesday. How many of the nine points on offer the Quakes can take could go far in determining their final position in the Western Conference.
• "We can't keep tying," said De Rosario. "Tying helps keep us ahead of the teams lower than us but if we want to get up to where L.A. and Dallas are, we definitely need to start winning. With three home games coming up, it will be very important for us to get three points in each of those games so we can jump right back up."
REAL SALT LAKE
Real Salt Lake went without a goal for the fourth consecutive match, their losing streak matching the same period after a 1-0 loss to the Los Angeles Galaxy at The Home Depot Center on Saturday evening. Real are now tied for fourth place in the Western Conference with 11 points from 12 matches, level with the Colorado Rapids four points behind the San Jose Earthquakes and 14 points adrift of West leader FC Dallas.
• The Galaxy completely stifled the Real attack, but could only hit home once in remaining unbeaten on their home ground.
• The visitors were kept with a single attempt at goal for the first 51 minutes, then a minute later, Landon Donovan hit for the game-winner, his sixth goal of the season. A long ball from Cobi Jones on the right flank found Donovan behind the RSL back line, and he neatly slotted home past D.J. Countess after racing into the penalty area.
• Kevin Hartman was called upon to make a fine save on Real forward Dante Washington - then left back Todd Dunivant cleared the rebound attempt off the line as the Galaxy 'keeper was credited with his 100th win in goal, the first goalkeeper in MLS history to reach that milestone.
• Real coach John Ellinger made three changes to the team that lost 2-0 to FC Dallas the previous weekend, once again tweaking his tactics. Kenny Cutler made his first MLS start, coming in for Nik Besagno in a holding midfield role, and Matt Behncke came in for the injured Rusty Pierce in the back. Dante Washington came into the team for his first RSL start, as Seth Trembly returned to the substitutes' bench.
• Ellinger returned to a 4-4-2 scheme, with Jason Kreis moving to a central midfield role and Clint Mathis going back forward. Here's the team he ran out: D.J. Countess - Nelson Akwari, Matt Behncke, Brian Dunseth, Brian Kamler - Kenny Cutler - Chris Brown (Seth Trembly 72), Jason Kreis, Andy Williams - Clint Mathis (Jamie Watson 61), Dante Washington
• "You have to have a starting point," Ellinger said. "Today is a starting point. Effort-wise, I thought everybody stepped up. . . . They still believe they can make a difference in this league. Make the playoffs and then do something in the playoffs. They just decided there were going to be no letdowns."
TEAM NEWS
• Real lost for the fourth consecutive match and saw its goalles streak reach nearly seven hours (411 minutes). Real haven't scored on their travels in 421 minutes. Still, unlike the previous two losses, to Chicago Fire and FC Dallas, Ellinger was happier with his team's effort.
• "I told every player, there's nobody who should be hanging their heads. It's a huge turnaround with what we saw in Chicago and Dallas against a very good team at home, and on a big field," said Ellinger. "It's still a loss, though, and it still pains you, no question."
• Ellinger will have a number of key performers again available to him this week. The biggest absence last weekend was center back Eddie Pope, held out of the match for precautionary reasons after suffering a bruised kneecap in the USA's 3-0 win in Panama. After an MRI examination came back negative Pope was cleared to play, but was held out of making the trip after discussions with Ellinger.
• Pope should be back, as well as the Trinidad & Tobago international pair of Leslie Fitzpatrick and Marlon Rojas. However, Nelson Akwari will be out through suspension for yellow card caution point accumulation.
• But Ellinger was also pleased with the performance of two rookies against the Galaxy, who had earned significant minutes after their play in pulling RSL back from a two-goal deficit for a 3-2 victory in a midweek friendly against Universidad Catolica. Kenny Cutler played the entire match in his first MLS start, while Jamie Watson came on for the final half-hour in Carson and nearly pulled Real back level. Watson had played just one minute in RSL's first 11 matches. "Jamie did what he needed to do," said Ellinger.
