COMMERCE CITY, Colo. -Â The San Jose Earthquakes earned a 1-1 draw against the Colorado Rapids on Saturday evening at Dick's Sporting Goods Park. Midfielder Chofis scored his third goal of the season, while 17-year-old forward Cade Cowell tallied his team-leading fourth assist. Saturday's result saw the Quakes earn their second consecutive road draw against a team in good form, with Colorado entering the match on a 6-2-1 run in their last nine matches.
San Jose jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the 11th minute. Cowell passed the ball to Chofis just outside the 18-yard box and he sent a left-footed strike past goalkeeper William Yarbrough. With the assist, Cowell became the first player in MLS to tally at least four goals and four assists this season.
Colorado then found the equalizer early in the second half. Cole Bassett cut onto his left foot from the edge of the penalty area and scored on a low shot just out of the reach of JT Marcinkowski's outstretched arms.
The Earthquakes will now return to San Jose before playing their third consecutive away match against Sporting Kansas City on Wednesday, July 21. The match kicks off from Children's Mercy Park at 5:30 p.m. PT and will be broadcast live on NBC Sports California, KNBR 1050 and 1370 KZSF.
GAME NOTES
The Earthquakes now hold a 3-7-3 record (12 pts.) during the 2021 MLS regular season and are currently in 11th place in the Western Conference.
The Quakes are now 30-23-19 all-time vs. Colorado, including a 13-15-10 away record.
Midfielder Chofis scored his third goal of the season and of his MLS career. All three of his goals were scored in the first 15 minutes of matches.
Forward Cade Cowell tallied his fourth assist of the season and fifth of his MLS career. He leads the Quakes in both goals (4) and assists (4). He became the first player in MLS to tally at least four goals and four assists this season.
Midfielder Shea Salinas wore the captain's armband for the first time in 2021.
Forward Benji Kikanovic made his first MLS start, playing 45 minutes.
MLS Regular Season
Colorado Rapids 1 - 1 San Jose Earthquakes
July 17, 2021 - Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colo.
Man of the Match: Chofis
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Scoring Summary:Â *SJ - Chofis (Cade Cowell) 11; COL - Cole Bassett (Nicolas Benezet, Nicolas Mezquida) 53.
Misconduct Summary:Â COL - Andre Shinyashiki (caution) 38; SJ - Cristian Espinoza (caution) 55; COL - Dantouma Toure (caution) 88; COL - Auston Trusty (caution) 90+2; COL - Jack Price (caution) 90+5.
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COLORADO RAPIDS:Â *William Yarbrough; Keegan Rosenberry, Danny Wilson, Auston Trusty, Lalas Abubakar; Nicolas Benezet (Braian Galvan 66), Michael Barrios (Dantouma Toure 87), Jack Price, Nicolas Mezquida, Cole Bassett; Andre Shinyashiki.
Substitutes not used:Â Steven Beitashour, Kortne Ford, Clint Irwin, Drew Moor, Oliver Larraz, Diego Rubio, Collen Warner.
SHOTS: 14; SHOTS ON GOAL: 2; FOULS: 18; CORNER KICKS: 3; SAVES:1
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES:Â JT Marcinkowski; Oswaldo Alanis (Siad Haji 84), Nathan, Tanner Beason, Marcos Lopez (Andy Rios 84); Eric Remedi, Shea Salinas, Chofis (Jack Skahan 75), Cristian Espinoza (Luciano Abecasis 66); Benji Kikanovic (Chris Wondolowski 46), Cade Cowell.
Substitutes not used:Â Jacob Akanyirige, Florian Jungwirth, Paul Marie, Daniel Vega.
SHOTS: 7; SHOTS ON GOAL: 2; FOULS: 7; CORNER KICKS: 1; SAVES: 1
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES HEAD COACH MATIAS ALMEYDA
On the team's approach to this match:
"I wanted to achieve a more solid defense. This system also allowed for lots of fast players on the sides. I knew about the sacrifice needed to be made by Eric Remedi and Chofis, but I also knew we could hurt them in every counter-attack. We also reinforced our aerial game. We planned this match this way."
On the chemistry developing between Cade Cowell and Chofis:
"Every coach looks for chemistry and for different players to form partnerships. Chofis is a player that needs to have partnerships. Important things come from Chofis being on the ball. He is scoring and assisting on goals. He is one of our most dangerous players in the offensive phase. Cade keeps growing and yet is still very young. When he improves on the things that I am looking for, he will become a very important player for his club and country. That requires time for him to play, make mistakes, play well or decently. That is the only way for young players to progress and grow."
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On the altitude impacting the pace of the match:*
"I thought it was a dynamic match at a high altitude. There were moments where the match would go back and forth, and we did not want that. That resulted from a lack of control from both teams. I thought the guys gave it their all. This is the path we must take to move past the situation we are in. We don't find excuses. We have to keep working, correcting mistakes, and giving the team confidence because the players are the ones that will ultimately see us move forward."
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES MIDFIELDER CHOFIS
On his chemistry with Cade Cowell:
"I think players in the midfield, especially those in the number 10 role, as I was, need partnerships in order to understand each other, and make goal-scoring passes. Regarding Cade, who is just starting his career, we're going step by step, and we've connected on a couple of goals. I have no doubt that he will develop into a great player in a couple of years. He still has much to learn. He is doing a great job and we need to continue down this path, in which we learn off each other. We also learn from everyone else, especially the coaching staff who take the week to plan goal-scoring plays."
On his fitness ahead of a busy week:
"I feel better about my fitness, although I am not yet at 100 percent. I just need a little bit more time to be back at my best. When you go a year and a half without playing, it makes things difficult in that regard. The important thing is I am getting better. I am working hard throughout the week in training. Sometimes I will get a goal, and this is the path we need to stay on in order to improve. That's how modern football is. Matias tells us that he has a lot of confidence in us and tells us to keep trying, even when we make mistakes. You don't hear that from many coaches, and we need to take advantage of that."
