CARSON, Calif. -- A wild second half wound up petering out at the end as the San Jose Earthquakes and host Chivas USA played to a 2-2 draw Saturday night before 9,732 at the Home Depot Center.
Second-half substitute Cordell Cato picked up the equalizer in the 76th minute. It was the final twist to a feisty match that had gone all San Jose's way in the first half, before then being dominated by the Rojiblancos, and then back again.
With the draw, the Earthquakes extended their winless streak to five games. They have not won since March 23. Chivas USA see the positive from the result, breaking a two-game losing streak.
San Jose (2-3-4), who have yet to win on the road, dominated the first half. The Earthquakes had six corner kicks to Chivas USA’s zero, and they took a deserved lead in the 40th minute through Chris Wondolowski.The reigning Budweiser Golden Boot winner beat Joaquin Velazquez for a ball on the back post.
Meanwhile, the Rojiblancos did not attempt a shot on goal in the first half.
But Chivas USA (3-3-2) scored twice in the first five minutes of the second half to take their first lead since March 30. Defender Mario de Luna scored the equalizer in the 47th minute by deflecting a centering pass from Jorge Villafaña past San Jose goalkeeper Jon Busch. De Luna’s initial attempt was blocked but the ball bounced back to him and he was able to get it sneak by Busch. It was the first goal for de Luna since joining the club on loan from Mexican side CD Guadalajara.
Just four minutes later, forward Tristan Bowen netted the go-ahead goal with a scintillating left-footed strike -- again off a cross from Villafana.
As the half wore on, it appeared that Chivas USA – who had not scored the entire month – were in line to end their two-game losing streak. Their defensive pairing of De Luna and Joaquin Velazquez kept things tight in back, frustrating San Jose's Steven Lenhart to the point that Lenhart was subbed off by coach Frank Yallop to avoid his picking up a possible red card.
Cato came on for Marvin Chavez in the 68th minute, and the Trinidadian made good on his promise, depositing a centering pass from Shea Salinas to tie the score.
From there, the Quakes were back in control. Adam Jahn came close to scoring in the 72nd minute, but Velazquez saved his shot with a sliding block. Wondolowski then nearly set up the game-winner in the 84th minute but Kennedy, who made four saves on the night, was there to stop Jahn’s shot and preserve the draw.
While San Jose’s Alan Gordon missed the match -- he remains suspended through May 8 -- Chivas USA were without starters Bobby Burling (five yellows) and Edgar Mejia (red card last week). Juan Agudelo, the Goats’ leading scorer, missed his second consecutive game with a strained left hamstring.
The clubs meet again Aug. 4 in San Jose and Sept. 29 at the Home Depot Center.
Next up for San Jose are two home matches, against Montreal on May 4 and Toronto FC on May 8, while Chivas USA play their next two away from home at Sporting Kansas City on May 5 and the Portland Timbers on May 12.
