The San Jose Earthquakes and the Real Salt Lake played out a 1-1 draw in their MLS clash on Saturday.
The Earthquakes took the lead in the 14th minute when Chris Wondolowski robbed Kyle Beckerman and teed up Sam Cronin for the midfielder to fire the ball past Nick Rimando.
San Jose should have doubled their lead minutes later as Wondolowski collected Tommy Thompson's knockdown on the edge of the box, but he put his volley wide of the post.
Salt Lake were handed the chance to draw level when Jordan Stewart was adjudged to have fouled Olmes Garcia in the area and a penalty was awarded.
Javier Morales took the spot kick and fired his shot past Jon Busch, sending the keeper the wrong way.
Real nearly went ahead when Garcia raided down the flank and cut the ball back to the advancing Luke Mulholland, and his scuffed shot went inches wide of the post with Busch beaten.
The home side almost retook the lead when a loose ball fell to Atiba Harris in the box and he fired at goal from close range, but Rimando somehow kept his effort out with a brilliant one-handed stop.
Beckerman nearly atoned for his first-half error as he powered an effort at goal from distance for the visitors, but his shot went just past the post.
San Jose had the chance to win the game late on when Thompson broke upfield and into the box, but the striker saw his shot well blocked by Nat Borchers as both teams settled for a point.
Simon Sinclair
