SAN JOSE, Calif. – The San Jose Earthquakes fell to the Colorado Rapids 2-1 on Saturday night at PayPal Park in front of 15,302 fans.
The visitors got on the board first in the 38th minute when Earthquakes goalkeeper Daniel parried away a cross from the left wing, but Colorado midfielder Cole Bassett poked in the rebound—one of only two Rapids shots in the half. However, San Jose answered in the first minute of stoppage time as the half wound down. Chicho Arango thumped a Cristian Espinoza corner kick into the back of the net for the equalizer to knot the match 1-1 at intermission.
The pitch opened up for both teams in the second half. In the 59th minute, Rapids winger Djordje Mihailovic broke free down the middle but his blazing shot from the edge of the box was batted away by Daniel. San Jose had a chance two minutes later but Ousseni Bouda’s blast bounced off the crossbar. Finally in the 71st minute, Colorado broke the deadlock when defender Keegan Rosenberry’s through ball found midfielder Omir Fernandez on the left wing, who then connected with second-half substitute Calvin Harris for the go-ahead goal.
The Black and Blue will now travel to Charlotte, North Carolina, next Saturday, March 22, when they take on Charlotte FC. Kickoff from Bank of America Stadium will take place at 4:30 p.m. PT and will be broadcast globally on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV (English/Spanish), as well as on local radio via KSFO 810 AM (English) and 1370 AM La Kaliente (Spanish).
GAME NOTES
San Jose moved to 33-27-19 in MLS play against the Colorado Rapids (104 GF, 100 GA) with a home record of 19-11-9 (58 GF, 43 GA).
Quakes forward Chicho Arango scored at the beginning of stoppage time in the first half (45+1’) for his second goal of the season and 55th of his MLS career. Arango also stayed hot against Colorado, earning his seventh goal contribution (5g/2a) in seven MLS matches vs. the Rapids.
Quakes forward/team captain Cristian Espinoza’s first-half assist on Chicho Arango’s goal was his third on the season and 74th career helper, extending his club record.
Quakes forward/team captain Cristian Espinoza extended his consecutive games streak—a club record and the longest active run in MLS—to 113, tying David Ousted for third all-time. Only Luis Robles (183) and Chris Klein (141) are ahead of him on the list.
MLS ALL-TIME CONSECUTIVE GAMES
183 Luis Robles (2012-18)
141 Chris Klein (2005-09)*
113 Cristian Espinoza (2021-present)
113 David Ousted (2013-16)
112 Kevin Hartman (2006-09)
field players
The Quakes’ attack put Colorado goalkeeper Zack Steffen to the test, unleashing 28 shots (13 on goal), the most since Nov. 7, 2021, in a 1-1 draw with FC Dallas (also 28 shots, seven on goal).
Colorado head coach Chris Armas earned 66 caps for the U.S. Men’s National Team playing for current Quakes head coach Bruce Arena and assistant coach Dave Sarachan (1998-2005). At club level, Armas also played for Sarachan on the Chicago Fire (2002-07).
Father faced son tonight as Quakes assistant coach Dave Sarachan’s son Ian is an assistant on Chris Armas’ Colorado coaching staff.
San Jose Earthquakes 1 – 2 Colorado Rapids
Saturday, March 15, 2025 – PayPal Park; San Jose, Calif.
Weather: 55°F Partly Cloudy
Attendance: 15,302
Match Officials:
Referee: Alexis Da Silva
AR1: Adam Garner
AR2: Felisha Mariscal
VAR: Younes Marrakchi
AVAR: Mike Kampmeinert
4th Official: Corbyn May
Scoring Summary:
COL (0-1) – Cole Bassett (unassisted) 38’
SJ (1-1) – Chicho Arango (Cristian Espinoza) 45+1’
COL (1-2) – Calvin Harris (Omir Fernandez, Keegan Rosenberry ) 71’
Misconduct Summary:
COL – Reggie Cannon (caution) 57’
SJ – Chicho Arango (caution) 81’
COL – Zack Steffen (caution) 90+1’
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES: Daniel (GK); Nick Lima, Bruno Wilson, Dave Romney, Jamar Ricketts (Vítor Costa 81’); Ian Harkes (Niko Tsakiris 81’), Beau Leroux (Mark-Anthony Kaye 58’); Cristian Espinoza (C), Chicho Arango (Preston Judd 90+3’), Ousseni Bouda (Amahl Pellegrino 81’); Josef Martínez.
Substitutes not used: Earl Edwards Jr. (GK), Daniel Munie, Rodrigues, Oscar Verhoeven.
POSS.: 59.9%; SHOTS: 28; SOG: 13; CORNERS: 10; OFFSIDES: 1; SAVES: 2; FOULS: 9; xG: 3.1
COLORADO RAPIDS: Zack Steffen (GK); Reggie Cannon, Andreas Maxso, Chidozie Awaziem, Keegan Rosenberry (C), Wayne Frederick (Omir Fernandez 65’), Cole Bassett, Oliver Larraz; Kevin Cabral (Calvin Harris 65’), Djordje Mihailovic, Rafael Navarro.
Substitutes not used: Adam Beaudry (GK), Samuel Bassett, Michael Edwards, Ali Fadal, Alexander Harris, Ian Murphy, Darren Yapi.
POSS.: 40.1%; SHOTS: 9; SOG: 4; CORNERS: 4; OFFSIDES: 3; SAVES: 12; FOULS: 9; xG: 2.2
EARTHQUAKES HEAD COACH BRUCE ARENA
On bouncing back in the first half before conceding the game-winner after intermission:
“Obviously it was great to get the goal back right at the end of half. On the night we played well enough to come out of it with at least a point. And [we had] a couple mental breakdowns for sure. The second goal was just a mistake ... and it cost us dearly.”
On Chicho Arango’s second goal of the season and the team’s approach in the second half:
“Chicho scored a great goal. At halftime we felt we were in control of the game although we had to come from behind. The second half, I thought we played well and they created one good scoring opportunity with that breakaway, and Daniel makes a big save. I thought we were in position to push the game real hard the last 20 minutes and get three minutes, and failed when we had a lapse defensively. You do that, you deserve to lose the game.”
On the Quakes taking 28 shots on Colorado goalkeeper Zack Steffen but unable to convert the equalizer:
“The keeper made some good saves for sure. I think we squandered a few chances and a couple plays where we needed to be cleaner on the ball to create a good chance at goal. We failed. We walk away with only one goal and I think a couple mistakes that cost us in conceding. Those things have to be cleaned up. There’s no excuses for that.”
EARTHQUAKES MIDFIELDER IAN HARKES
On overall thoughts of the match:
“It was a similar feeling to the Minnesota [United FC] game in terms of how much possession we had, how much we were on top of them, and starting well. I think we have to capitalize on those starts, like we did the first two games. Scoring early always helps with the confidence, but making sure we shore up the back line as well. That's everyone, not just the back line, but all eleven players when those transition moments happen, because we knew Colorado was going to be a transition team. I think the goals you could see tonight were just too easy from us.”
On the frustration of scoring once despite taking 28 shots:
“It's very frustrating. They have a good keeper, Zack Steffen, and he usually comes up with big saves. I think we could have definitely done better and been more clinical on our chances. We created way too much to not come away with at least a point tonight. We're going to be frustrated with that. That's everyone on the team, not just the strikers, but I think we have to be clinical. We had those chances, especially second half — two 3v1s and 2v1s that just weren't finding the right pass or the final touch. We'll get that right hopefully into next week.”
On finishing goalscoring opportunities:
“I think it's just making the right decision, picking the right pass and I think you could see that tonight. We were getting down the right side a lot with Cristian [Espinoza], with Nick Lima doing really well in the wide flank. So I think just picking the right pass and obviously just following it up with a with a clinical finish. Those moments will happen and keep falling for us, if we keep providing those opportunities.”
On looking ahead to the team’s next match on the road at Charlotte FC:
“I think we're a confident group going into every game and I think that that's why we're disappointed right now. It’s only going to build even further going into Charlotte. They’re a very good team, away from home. It’s a tough place to play, so we have to be ready and we have to have a response.”
