SAN JOSE – The top two teams in MLS played to a 1-1 draw Saturday night at PayPal Park.
San Jose Earthquakes forward Preston Judd scored on his first touch just more than three minutes into the game, but Vancouver Whitecaps FC outshot the Quakes 17-6, and potential U.S. World Cup selection Sebastian Berhalter scored the equalizer in the 76th minute.
The Quakes (9-1-2, 29 points) still have the best record in MLS, though Vancouver (8-1-2, 26 points) has played one fewer game and has a better goal differential.
San Jose Earthquakes’ Preston Judd (19) kicks the ball against Vancouver Whitecaps during the second half at PayPal Park in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, May 9, 2026. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)
The Black and Blue were attempting to become the first team since the 2001 Miami Fusion to earn 21 points in their first 12 games.
Playing in front of their second sellout crowd of the season, the Quakes got off to a perfect start. Paul Marie ran down the right side and delivered a pinpoint cross to Judd, who ran between two defenders and redirected the ball past goalie Yohei Takaoka.
It was a career-high eighth goal for Judd, a striker who was selected 35th overall in the 2021 MLS SuperDraft.
But Vancouver had two-thirds of the possession and finally got the tying goal when a deflected shot went right to Berhalter, the son of former U.S. national team coach Gregg Berhalter. The Whitecaps midfielder scored into an empty net.
Both teams were missing their star German Designated Player. Timo Werner of the Quakes was out with a leg injury, while Thomas Muller missed the game with an illness. The Quakes were also without Niko Tsakiris, who leads the team in assists (7) but suffered a significant injury last week.
Still, the Quakes improved to 1-0-1 against the defending Western Conference champions, following a 1-0 win at Vancouver in March.
San Jose’s next game is Wednesday at Seattle — the only team to beat the Quakes this season.