SAN JOSE, Calif. — San Jose Earthquakes goalkeeper Earl Edwards Jr. and defender Dave Romney have been named to Major League Soccer’s Team of the Matchday for Matchday 29. Edwards Jr.’s nine saves and Romney’s left-footed strike in minute 57 helped lift the Earthquakes to a 1-1 road draw with the Colorado Rapids on Saturday night at DICK’s Sporting Goods Park to extend San Jose’s unbeaten streak to seven league matches and remain fourth in the Western Conference table.
Edwards Jr., who was making his second consecutive start following a 3-1 home win vs. Portland on Sept. 26, was constantly in position throughout the match, keeping the Colorado attack at bay. The 34-year-old San Diego native saved his best for last in the waning moments as the Quakes remained tied 1-1. Darren Yapi had a chance at a header from point-blank range but Edwards Jr. extended to bat the ball away and deny him for the goalkeeper’s ninth save of the match.
Romney, who has been moved to the starting lineup amongst head coach Bruce Arena’s formation change, has been a vital part of San Jose’s success during this unbeaten streak and now has two goals in league play this season.
This is Edwards’ first selection to Team of the Matchday this season and second of his career. The Earthquakes have placed at least one player on 20 of the 28 Teams of the Matchday so far this season (Matchdays 16 and 17 had one combined team). This is also Romney’s first selection to Team of the Matchday this season.
The full “Quakes Replay” of tonight’s match is scheduled to air Wednesday, Oct. 14, at 8 p.m. PT on KTVU Plus. For highlights, analysis and features, fans can also watch the new half-hour magazine show “Quakes Exclusive,” which will next air on Friday, Oct. 16, on KTVU Plus at 8 p.m. PT and KTVU FOX 2 at 8:30 p.m. PT.
The Black and Blue continue their road trip against Real Salt Lake on Wednesday, Oct. 14. Kickoff from America First Field in Sandy, Utah, is slated for 6:30 p.m. PT with the match to be broadcast on Apple TV (English/Spanish), as well as via local radio on KSFO 810 AM (English) and La Kaliente 1370 AM (Spanish).
MLS TEAM OF THE MATCHDAY (MATCHDAY 29)
Forwards: Luis Suárez (MIA), Rafael Navarro (STL), Idan Toklomati (CLT)
Midfielders: André Luiz (SKC), Maren Haile-Selassie (CHI), Carlo Holse (STL), Lionel Messi (MIA)
Defenders: Reed Baker-Whiting (NSH), Dave Romney (SJ), Iván Angulo (ORL)
Goalkeeper: Maxime Crépeau (ORL)
Coach: Yoann Damet (STL)
Bench: Earl Edwards Jr. (SJ), Oliver Larraz (VAN), Chris Durkin (STL), Cavan Sullivan (PHI), Shakur Mohammed (NSH), Paul Arriola (SEA), Jorge Ruvalcaba (RBNY), Antoine Griezmann (ORL), Kevin Dénkey (CIN)
GAME NOTES
AT COLORADO: The Earthquakes captured their fourth straight result at Colorado in league play dating back to 2023. In the overall series, San Jose is now 34-27-19 (106 GF, 99 GA) against Colorado and 15-16-10 (48 GF, 56 GA) on the road.
ON THE TABLE: The Earthquakes remain fourth in the Western Conference (13-8-7, 46 points; 50 GF, 40 GA), while the Rapids stay in in eighth (11-13-4, 37 points; 39 GF, 39 GA).
BUCKING TRENDS: Tonight’s comeback result came against some odds. The Rapids were stellar at home, having boasted a 9-3-1 record entering the match. Colorado was also 11-3-2 when scoring first and 7-2-1 when leading at half. Meanwhile, the Quakes were 2-5-3 when conceding first and 1-4-2 when trailing at half.
GOING STREAKING: Since Quakes coach Bruce Arena switched to a three-man back line on Aug. 29 vs. Houston, the Quakes have since gone on a seven-game unbeaten streak (3-0-4). The streak also coincides with the arrival of midfielder Eduard Löwen, who has played in all seven of those games since joining the team via trade from St. Louis CITY SC.
BUY DOMESTIC: The Quakes started six American players tonight. No team in MLS has averaged more of them in the starting 11 more across all competitions in 2026 than Bruce Arena’s Earthquakes (7.35/game). Arena also started seven former college players tonight; no team in MLS has more of them on the roster (19).
SUPER DAVE: Dave Romney’s 57th-minute goal was his second of the season and 10th of his league career. It was the University of San Francisco alum’s first goal since April 11 at Sporting Kansas City.
EL CAPITAN: Team captain Ronaldo Vieira’s 57th-minute primary assist was his second of the season and MLS career.
TIMO TIME: Timo Werner’s 57th-minute secondary assist was his ninth of the season and MLS career. It was also his 10th in all competitions, giving him 16 total goal contributions in his first campaign with San Jose (6g/10a).
DUKE OF EARL: Earl Edwards Jr. had a second straight solid start for San Jose, making nine saves and preserving the point. For his efforts, the veteran goalkeeper was named Northern California Honda Dealers Man of the Match.
BACK AT THE SUMMIT: Preston Judd returned to the city where he starred for the University of Denver from 2019-20 and earned Summit League Tournament MVP honors in 2019. He appeared to score his 16th goal of the season in the 13th minute, but it was annulled due to offside.
PICK YOUR POISON: Ten different Quakes have two or more goals in MLS play (Preston Judd, Beau Leroux, Eduard Löwen (three for St. Louis, one for San Jose) Niko Tsakiris, Ousseni Bouda, Daniel Munie, Reid Roberts, Dave Romney, Jack Skahan and Timo Werner) while 12 different Quakes have two or more assists (Bouda, Leroux, Nick Fernandez, Judd, Löwen, Paul Marie, Munie, Jamar Ricketts, Skahan, Tsakiris, Ronaldo Vieira and Werner).
SPURS REUNION: Before they joined San Jose and Colorado as a forward and head coach respectively, Timo Werner and then-assistant coach Matt Wells were together at English Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur from 2024-25, winning the UEFA Europa League.
THE AMERICANS: Both teams’ leading assist men this season—San Jose’s Niko Tsakiris (11) and Colorado’s Paxten Aaronson (8)—were teammates on the 2022 United States Under-20 Concacaf Championship team that won the final 6-0 over the Dominican Republic. Tsakiris sat the game out with an upper-body injury.
Colorado Rapids 1 – 1 San Jose Earthquakes
Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026 — DICK’s Sporting Goods Park; Commerce City, Colo.
Weather: 72°F Mostly Cloudy
NorCal Honda Dealers Man of the Match: Earl Edwards Jr.
Attendance: TBD
*all stats unofficial
Match Officials:
Referee: Filip Dujic
AR1: Micheal Barwegen
AR2: Diego Blas
4th Official: Timothy Ford
VAR: Michael Radchuk
AVAR: Mike Kampmeinert
Scoring Summary:
COL (1-0) – Donavan Phillip (Paxten Aaronson) 27’
SJ (1-1) – Dave Romney (Ronaldo Vieira, Timo Werner) 57’
Misconduct Summary:
SJ – Jack Jasinski (caution) 44’
COL – Loic Williams (caution) 45+3’
COLORADO RAPIDS: Nicolas Defreitas-Hansen (GK); Reggie Cannon (Keegan Rosenberry 73’), Loic Williams, Rob Holding (C), Miguel Navarro; Morgan Whittaker, Josh Atencio (Ibrahim Sadiq 83’), Wayne Frederick; Donavan Phillip (Georgi Minoungou 58’, Hamzat Ojediran 83’), Paxten Aaronson, Saied Abu Farki (Darren Yapi 83’).
Substitutes not used: Adam Beaudry (GK), Noah Cobb, Kosi Thompson, Jackson Travis.
POSS.: 61.2%; SHOTS: 13; SOG: 10; CORNERS: 6; OFFSIDES: 5; SAVES: 3; FOULS: 16; xG: 1.4
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES: Earl Edwards Jr. (GK); Dave Romney, Daniel Munie, Jack Jasinski (Max Floriani 73’); Vítor Costa (Jamar Ricketts 59’), Beau Leroux (Ian Harkes 90+4’), Ronaldo Vieira (C), Eduard Löwen, Paul Marie (Nick Fernandez 73’); Timo Werner (Ousseni Bouda 59’), Preston Judd
Substitutes not used: Francesco Montali (GK), Noel Buck, Luka Jovanović, Benji Kikanović.
POSS.: 38.8%; SHOTS: 9; SOG: 4; CORNERS: 3; OFFSIDES: 7; SAVES: 9; FOULS: 12; xG: 0.7
EARTHQUAKES HEAD COACH BRUCE ARENA
On overall thoughts of tonight’s performance:
“Being down a goal and coming back was a great result for our team. And you know, this time of year, every point you get is going to be critically important. So this was a big point for us tonight against a team that has the second-best home record in the league. To come here and get a point, and even at the end of the game, having a possibility of winning the game was a really good effort by our team.”
On the team’s second-half comeback:
“Well, I think we were more aggressive in the second half. I think defensively we were better. We closed the ball down. Fatigue set in for both teams, so it gave us a little bit more time and gave us a little bit more possession, and we could be a little bit more dangerous. And having said all of that, you know they had they had a number of good chances, and Earl Edwards did an outstanding job in goal in the second half. But our team came back and fought hard and got an important point, so we move forward. Another tough game Wednesday in Salt Lake City.”
On the quality of depth in the back line showing up:
“I thought they played well. We had to make an adjustment with [Jack] Jasinski coming in with the suspension to [Reid] Roberts. I thought overall he did well. I thought [Vítor] Costa and [Paul] Marie in the wingback positions did very well, and Jamal Ricketts did an outstanding job coming in, as did [Nick] Fernandez. So overall, the back three with the wing backs had a real good night.”
On whether this game will have any positive effect on preparation for another high-altitude road game Wednesday against Real Salt Lake:
“You don't get accustomed to altitude in a short period of time. I'm not sure that this game is going to help us on Wednesday, with the exception of perhaps they understand [that] when the fatigue sets in, how to deal with it. But you know it's going to be challenging being in altitude again.”
EARTHQUAKES GOALKEEPER EARL EDWARDS JR.
On earning a point on the road in a tough environment:
“Yeah, the point is huge. I mean, anytime I guess you can avoid a loss is a good thing, especially when you're on the road. I think Colorado might have the best home record in the [conference]. Coming to play here in altitude is something that's pretty difficult, and their playing style matches up with that as well. They're pressing everything, wanting to play quick, so they make you feel that. So I think to handle what we went through in the first half and have a positive response in the second half was a really good showing from the team.”
On finally being healthy again after battling injuries this season:
“This year has been probably my toughest injury-wise. I've had a few muscle injuries, something I haven't experienced before. So battling that mentally and physically was tough throughout the year, and then you know the focus was always to get back to be ready to play if my name is called upon. I got back from this hamstring, my latest injury, and had a couple weeks before the international break came up, and was able to prepare for that. Since then I’ve been able to do my job.”
On whether saves contribute to the momentum of a game:
“I think in general, I have a good relationship with guys in the locker room, so I think that part helps. But aside from that, I think historically, I think if you look at things, good things tend to happen after big saves happen. So I think guys definitely feed off that, helps with momentum, things of that sort. So you know, you think you're about to give one up and [a save] keeps you in the game type of thing, so it's a momentum thing. I definitely think guys take something from it, and it's been a positive two games.”
On maintaining consistency down the stretch heading into playoffs:
“Consistency is really important. Can you continue to improve, being consistent in things you're good at, and improving on areas that you can improve on? With six games left going into the playoffs, we have some room to do that, and hopefully we can go into the playoffs hot.”
