Stephenson scores in San Jose draw

STANFORD, California (CMC):

Khari Stephenson scored a first-half goal that helped San Jose Earthquakes earn a 2-2 draw with New York Red Bulls on Saturday in Major League Soccer.

The Jamaican forward landed his third goal of the season in the last 10 minutes of the first half, to give the Quakes an equaliser.

San Jose had fallen into deficit in the third minute, when Joel Lindpere poked him a left-footed shot from just outside the six-yard box in the seventh minute.

A goalkeeping error by New York's Bouna Coundoul set Stephenson up to strike a half-volley into the net in the 37th minute.

Coundoul came off his line to grab a corner from Simon Dawkins, but couldn't handle the ball, dropping it on a high bounce for Stephenson, who used his left foot to score from close to the penalty spot.

The Quakes took the lead in the 68th minute when Steven Lenhart split New York's central defensive pair of Tim Ream and Carlos Mendes, to rifle home a header from 10 yards out.

Lindpere then grabbed a late equaliser for New York, when he fired a shot from just outside the penalty box and San Jose defender Bobby Burling tried to head the ball clear, but redirected it out of the reach of his own goalkeeper, Jon Busch, in the 85th minute.