SAN JOSE, Calif. — Jack Jasinski’s second-half equalizer propelled the San Jose Earthquakes to a 2-2 draw with the Colorado Rapids on Wednesday night at PayPal Park to clinch their first home playoff game since the stadium opened in 2015.
The Earthquakes struck first in minute 15 when Reid Roberts leaped from the center-edge of the six-yard box and headed home a Timo Werner corner kick to make it 1-0. The visitors answered in minute 26 when Wayne Frederick passed to Morgan Whittaker at the top of the 18-yard box; the latter charged forward and slotted the ball past Quakes goalkeeper Angus Gunn to equalize 1-1.
After intermission, San Jose searched for a go-ahead goal. In minute 64, Ousseni Bouda streaked down the right wing and his cross was on target for Preston Judd, but his header fell right into Colorado goalkeeper Nico Defreitas-Hansen's hands. In minute 70, Timo Werner had a scoring chance on goal that was saved by Defreitas-Hansen and eventually cleared. In the 71st minute, Werner was shown a red card and sent off by referee Ramy Touchan. Two minutes later with the man advantage, Colorado pulled ahead when Georgi Minoungou fed Darren Yapi for the go-ahead goal.
Down 2-1, the Black and Blue refused to relent and were rewarded. In the 75th minute, Preston Judd was fouled on a breakaway. Touchan showed the Rapids’ Kosi Thompson a red card and ejected him. With both teams now down a man, the Quakes found the equalizer in minute 83 when Niko Tsakiris’ corner kick for the far post connected with Jack Jasinski, who headed it in through the narrowest of angles for the final 1-1 margin. It was the rookie from Princeton’s second late game-tying goal in as many matches against Colorado; he also netted against the Rapids on Oct. 10 in the 95th minute to steal a 1-1 draw at DICK’s Sporting Goods Park.
The full “Quakes Replay” of tonight’s match is scheduled to air this weekend on KTVU Plus on Sunday, Nov. 1, at 8 p.m. PT. For highlights, analysis and features, fans can also watch the new half-hour magazine show “Quakes Exclusive,” which will next air on Friday, Oct. 30, on KTVU Plus at 8 p.m. PT.
The Black and Blue complete their final regular-season homestand before the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs when they host Real Salt Lake on Saturday, Oct. 31. Kickoff from PayPal Park is slated for 2 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).
GAME NOTES
ON THE TABLE: The Quakes are now fifth in the Western Conference (13-9-10, 49 points; 54 GF, 47 GA, +7 GD), while the Rapids move up to seventh (12-13-7, 43 points; 44 GF, 43 GA, +1 GD).
RECENT SERIES: The Earthquakes earned their third straight result in league play against Colorado. Just two weeks ago on Oct. 10 in Colorado, the Quakes erased a second-half deficit behind Earl Edwards Jr.’s nine saves and Dave Romney’s 57th-minute goal to draw 1-1. Right before that, they won 2-0 in Colorado in May 2025. In addition, the result snaps a two-game losing streak to the Rapids at PayPal Park.
BUY DOMESTIC: The Quakes started five 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 (7.26/game). Arena also started seven former college players tonight; no team in MLS has more of them on the roster (19).
THE BRUCE BUMP: Head Coach Bruce Arena has now guided an astounding fifth MLS club to the playoffs in his second season (D.C. United, Red Bull NY LA Galaxy, New England Revolution) after clinching a postseason berth with San Jose on Oct. 17. In addition, a win Wednesday would give the Quakes their most points since 2013, when they captured 51.
CENTER STAGE: Reid Roberts scored hjs fourth league goal of the season and of his career in minute 15 (4g/1a). Combined with 2026 MLS All-Star Daniel Munie (five goals), they have the highest total (9) among a center-back combo in league play. Munie has already broken John Doyle’s single-season club record of most goals by a defender (four in 2000).
TIMO TIME: Timo Werner recorded his 10th league assist in minute 15 (6g/10a). Combined with an assist accrued during the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, it was the German Designated Player’s 11th in all competitions.
JACK OF ALL TRADES: Jack Jasinski scored his third league goal of the season and his career in minute 83. It was the rookie from Princeton’s second late game-tying goal in as many matches against Colorado; he also netted against the Rapids on Oct. 10 in the 95th minute to steal a 1-1 draw at DICK’s Sporting Goods Park.
NIKO NEWS: Niko Tsakiris’ 83rd-minute assist was his team-leading 12th of the league season and 15th of his career.
PICK YOUR POISON: Eleven different Quakes have two or more goals in MLS play (Jack Jasinski, 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 (12) and Colorado’s Paxten Aaronson (11)—were teammates on the 2022 United States Under-20 Concacaf Championship team that won the final 6-0 over the Dominican Republic.
San Jose Earthquakes 2 – 2 Colorado Rapids
Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026 — PayPal Park; San Jose, California
Weather: 60°F Cloudy
Attendance: 15,034
*all stats unofficial
Match Officials:
Referee: Ramy Touchan
AR1: Corey Rockwell
AR2: Kevin Lock
4th Official: Elijio Arreguin
VAR: Edvin Jurisevic
AVAR: Jonathan Johnson
Scoring Summary:
SJ (1-0) – Reid Roberts (Timo Werner) 15’
COL (1-1) – Morgan Whittaker (Wayne Frederick, Josh Atencio) 26’
COL (1-2) – Darren Yapi (Georgi Minoungou, Paxten Aaronson) 73’
SJ (2-2) – Jack Jasinski (Niko Tsakiris) 83’
Misconduct Summary:
COL – Josh Atencio (caution) 22’
COL – Donavan Phillip (caution) 50’
COL – Loic Williams (caution) 62’
COL – Georgi Minoungou (caution) 65’
SJ – Timo Werner (ejection) 71’
COL – Kosi Thompson (ejection) 75’
SJ – Preston Judd (caution) 82’
COL – Saied Abu Farchi (caution) 90+2’
SJ – Ousseni Bouda (caution) 90+5’
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES: Angus Gunn (GK); Vítor Costa (Jamar Ricketts 79’), Reid Roberts, Daniel Munie, Jack Jasinski; Ronaldo Vieira (C) (Niko Tsakiris 79’), Eduard Löwen (Ian Harkes 79’), Beau Leroux (Nick Fernandez 88’); Timo Werner, Ousseni Bouda; Preston Judd (Luka Jovanović 90+8’).
Substitutes not used: Earl Edwards Jr. (GK), Max Floriani, Paul Marie, Dave Romney.
POSS.: 46%; SHOTS: 17; SOG: 8; CORNERS: 11; OFFSIDES: 2; SAVES: 0; FOULS: 21; xG: 2.9
COLORADO RAPIDS: Nicolas Defreitas-Hansen (GK); Kosi Thompson, Loic Williams, Rob Holding (C), Miguel Navarro; Morgan Whittaker (Darren Yapi 63’0, Josh Atencio (Hamzat Ojediran HT), Wayne Frederick; Georgi Minoungou (Noah Cobb, 79’), Paxten Aaronson, Donavan Phillip (Saied Abu Farchi 54’).
Substitutes not used: Adam Beaudry (GK), Ted Ku-DiPietro, Alex Harris, Keegan Rosenberry, Jackson Travis.
POSS.: 54%; SHOTS: 8; SOG: 2; CORNERS: 5; OFFSIDES: 5; SAVES: 6; FOULS: 20; xG: 0.7
EARTHQUAKES HEAD COACH BRUCE ARENA
On Jack Jasinski’s productive night to help secure the point with another clutch goal:
“He had a very good game. I think it was a little rough in the first half, but the second half was really good. He played very well in the last 20 minutes, and obviously, the goal was critically important.”
On Timo Werner assisting on the first goal and overall performance:
“He was having a good game tonight. He had a real good chance, he served the corner kick for the first goal, and had another very good opportunity right at the end of the half. He was dangerous throughout the night, and it’s a shame we couldn’t see him play 90 minutes.”
On the club’s progress since his arrival in December 2024:
“We made progress from 2024 to 2025, and we’ve made progress from 2025 to 2026. We’re not a team positioned to be MLS Cup favorites at the moment, but we’re getting better. There are a lot of things we need to improve on, both on and off the field, but we’re making progress. The guys did a great job. I’m really proud of them.”
“Well, I don’t think it’s about me. I think the entire organization has improved, from the players and coaching staff to sports medicine, sports performance, and everyone behind the scenes. Our facilities have improved as well. When I arrived in November or December 2024, I was shocked by the state of the facilities, and ownership stepped up. We built a dining hall across the street, added a team meeting room, and have a new training field. We were behind in a lot of areas, so ownership stepped up and supported us by investing in our facilities. That said, we still have a long way to go.”