Daniel's penalty-kick save helps Quakes earn draw vs. Rapids

Updated: Jun 4, 2023, 05:28 am

San Jose goalkeeper Daniel saved Connor Ronan's second-half penalty kick to help the visiting Earthquakes earn a 0-0 draw against the 10-man Colorado Rapids on Saturday night.

That save helped the Brazilian goalkeeper earn his second consecutive clean sheet and second overall in five starts for San Jose (6-5-5, 23 points) in his first MLS season.

Brought in to compete with JT Marcinkowski for the starting job, Daniel has made the last three starts for the Quakes after missing about two months recovering from knee surgery.

Marko Ilic kept his first clean sheet in his second start for Colorado despite not facing a single San Jose shot on goal. The Rapids snapped a five-game skid -- their longest since 2019 -- but are now winless in their first eight home matches of the season.

Colorado (2-8-7, 13 points) played the final 39 minutes down a man after Moise Bombito picked up his second yellow card in seven minutes and was sent off.

Daniel made five saves in total. Before his penalty stop, the most difficult came in the 15th minute when he sprawled to his left to deny Cole Bassett's header after Bassett ran onto Bombito's cross.

San Jose's best chance of the first half came eight minutes before the break when Benji Kikanovic's effort from long distance struck the right post.

Bombito's second yellow card took some of the pressure off the Earthquakes' defense, but the visitors struggled to put their resulting numerical advantage to use.

And on one of the Rapids' few forays forward, they had a chance to earn an improbable lead.

About midway through the half, Michael Barrios got the ball on the left side of the penalty area, cut back against defender Rodrigues and then hit the turf.

Referee Sergii Boiko originally cautioned Barrios for embellishment but reversed that decision and awarded a penalty kick after a replay review.

Daniel dove left to deny the ensuing spot kick from Ronan, who hit it at a height and placement that helped make the save easier.

--Field Level Media