Commerce City, CO (My Sportsbook) - Colorado Rapids striker Conor Casey, who leads MLS with 14 goals, was glad to escape Friday's trip to San Jose with a point, and expects his club to pick up three in a rematch Wednesday at Dick's Sporting Goods Park.
Colorado (10-8-7) tied the match against San Jose on a Casey penalty kick in the 95th minute, and the U.S. international realized how huge it was for "our road to the playoffs."
"We didn't have our best game ... and to leave with a point, deserved or not, is important for us, especially on our road to playoffs," Casey said.
The Rapids currently hold one of the league's eight playoff spots, but sit in a tie with Chivas for sixth and are trying to hold off four more teams sitting within three points.
Colorado is also just six points off the pace of the Houston Dynamo - who lead the Western Conference - and has played two fewer matches.
The Rapids realize playing the Earthquakes (5-12-6) twice in such a small span will not be easy, but playing in Commerce City should make the difference just days after a 1-1 draw.
"It's always tough to play a team back-to-back but we will have the advantage at home on our field," Rapids midfielder Mehdi Ballouchy said.
"It will be good to play them at home. We'll be in good position, on our pitch with home form and will be looking to take the full three points," Casey said.
Colorado coach Gary Smith was proud of his team's effort Friday, and expected his side to pull out at least a draw.
"The goal wasn't a huge surprise for us, we were positive in our approach to the game and we got rewarded for that," Smith said.
"It was huge for us. I missed a couple already this season, so I decided to go down the middle and hoped he dove out of the way and luckily for us, it worked out," Casey said.
"Colorado kept coming and coming and it paid off in the end," San Jose manager Frank Yallop said.
Colorado will be without Colin Clark (knee) and goalie Matt Pickens (knee) and defender Cory Gibbs (thigh) is doubtful.
San Jose, which is next-to-last in MLS, is without midfielder Darren Huckerby (hip) this week, while Arturo Alvarez (hamstring) and Bobby Convey (hamstring) are questionable and Shea Salinas (knee) is probable.
The Earthquakes are still actually alive in the playoff race - they have seven matches remaining - but would likely need to win out just to have a realistic chance of qualifying.
Friday's draw left San Jose just four points ahead of Red Bull New York, which has the worst record in MLS with just four wins and 17 points.
Ryan Johnson scored San Jose's lone goal last week - his eighth of the year - and although he admitted he wasn't even shooting on the play, it was a great sign for the Earthquakes for him to end a nearly two-month scoring drought.
"I was looking to head the ball to the back post because that's how the play is designed. With those plays, players get lucky, like what happened tonight," Johnson said.
Colorado visits the Kansas City Wizards on Saturday in the second of two games this week, while San Jose visits D.C. United on Sunday to cap a busy stretch.
