MLS

• Cooper's late equalizer forces 'Quakes to settle for draw at FCD

  
  

  Frisco, TX (Sports Network) - A penalty kick converted by FC Dallas forward Kenny Cooper in the 89th minute forced the visiting San Jose Earthquakes to settle for a 1-1 draw in Major League Soccer action at Pizza Hut Park on Thursday night.

  While a draw on the road would normally be a positive result, the Earthquakes aren't happy because it could have been three points if not for the questionable penalty.

  Bruno Guarda fired a ball into the San Jose penalty area and it deflected off midfielder Francisco Lima's hand, prompting the call from referee Abiodun Okulaja.

  The 'Quakes argued that it was an unintentional play but Okulaja stuck with his original call, as is usually the case.

  Cooper responded by knocking in his 16th goal of the season on the PK chance, easily beating goalkeeper Joe Cannon to the left side. The goal made Cooper three-for-three on PK tries this season.

  The equalizer came after second-half substitute Ryan Johnson gave the visitors a 1-0 lead in the 58th minute, one minute after entering the game.

  Johnson ran onto a long ball from the back from Jason Hernandez, got behind the defense and played a perfect shot through the legs of Dallas goalkeeper Dario Sala to make it 1-0. It was Johnson's fifth goal of the season.

  With the draw the 'Quakes (7-10-9) remain five points out of the last automatic playoff berth in the Western table while FC Dallas (8-9-10) is in a three way tie with Real Salt Lake and Colorado for that last spot with an extra game played.

  San Jose is off until next week, when it plays two games. The first is on Oct. 11 vs. Chivas USA while the second is a make-up game four days later at Western Conference leading Houston. Dallas plays its next league fixture on Oct. 11 vs. Eastern Conference bottom-feeder Toronto FC.

  10/02 23:35:31 ET