Jader Obrian scored in the 57th minute to allow FC Dallas to escape with a 1-1 draw against the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday night in Frisco, Texas.
Obrian’s goal leveled the match after Jeremy Ebobisse set the tone early with a goal in the third minute for San Jose.
The outcome left both teams winless in their past four matches and created additional doubt about the final playoff positions in the Western Conference, where the Earthquakes and FC Dallas sit eighth and ninth, respectively.
San Jose (10-10-13, 43 points) has a slight edge on Dallas (10-10-12, 42 points), which has a match in hand because of a postponement of a meeting with lowly Colorado that was scheduled for earlier in the week.
The Earthquakes and Dallas also tied 1-1 in a late-May match.
Goalkeeper Daniel notched four saves for the Earthquakes, who have won only two road matches this season.
Maarten Paes made two saves for FC Dallas.
Ebobisse deposited his first goal in four matches off a cross from Jackson Yueill, sliding in front of the net between defenders to send the ball past Paes. The sequence began with Cristian Espinoza pushing the ball to Yueill.
Obrian’s goal came off a pass from Jesus Ferreira. Obrian beat the back line of the defense, took a couple of dribbles from the top of the box and had a clear shot against Daniel.
Obrian has five goals this season, with three coming across the last six matches.
The first half was pretty much controlled by Dallas, which had more than double the possession time posted by San Jose. But only one shot by Dallas was put on goal.
The offensive chances grew significantly in the second half. Dallas finished with a 10-9 edge in shots, putting five on target to the Earthquakes’ three.
–Field Level Media