Defender Reid Roberts knew he had to do something extraordinary in order to prevent the Earthquakes from giving up a last-minute goal and losing to Toronto FC on Saturday.

Fortunately for San Jose, Roberts was up to the do-or-die task and made a spectacular save with a bicycle kick on a shot by Dániel Sallói in the 86th minute. His heroics allowed the Earthquakes to earn a 1-1 draw and remain unbeaten on the road.

Salloí had a one-on-one opportunity and chipped the ball over Quakes goalkeeper Daniel and toward the goal. Roberts had anticipated Salloí’s move and instantly knew what he needed to do.

“After I saw the ball go in behind, I knew his only option was to chip the keeper, so I expected him to try it,” said Roberts, a former USF defender who was fifth overall pick by San Jose in the 2025 SuperDraft. “I figured I might have a chance, so I just followed the play all the way through. I was fortunate he didn’t hit it a little harder, but I’m glad I stayed with it and was able to keep it out.”

Roberts slid in and booted the ball away as it crept mere inches from the goal.

San Jose (9-1-1) was hoping to set an MLS record for consecutive road wins to begin a season, but instead settled for tying the 2022 New York Red Bulls’ record of five in a row. They’ll settle for the point and retaining sole possession of first place in the Western Conference and Supporters’ Shield tables.

The Quakes also extended their unbeaten streak to seven MLS games.

“Well, it was a heck of a play by Reid at the end of the game,” said Quakes coach Bruce Arena. “On the day, we didn’t play well. There’s no hiding from that. But I give the guys credit for hanging in there, grinding, and getting a point. Usually, when you don’t play well on the road, you go home with nothing, so getting one point is a positive.”

Toronto (3-3-5) jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the 2nd minute when Sallói used assists from Jonathan Osorio and Markus Cimermancic to score his fourth goal of the season. Osorio has two assists, while Cimermancic collected his first in his 10th career appearance.

Roberts admitted the early goal put the Quakes in a tough spot.

“Yeah, at times we definitely felt the pressure, especially in the opening minutes after conceding an early goal,” he said. “But we managed it by sticking together, keeping our energy high and helping each other out.

“In the last few games we’ve been down a goal early, so we’re used to it, we always know we’re still in the match, and we always believe we can win. That said, I think we deserve more than a point today.”

The point enabled San Jose to extend its unbeaten streak to seven league games. And it was made possible by Preston Judd’s effort in the 13th minute.

San Jose pulled even when Judd scored for the seventh time this season, matching his career high. Niko Tsakiris notched his seventh assist, tying Los Angeles FC’s Son Heung-min for the league lead.

The Quakes were certain Judd had broken the tie by scoring his eighth goal in the 65th minute. But when Jack Skahan fed Judd in the box for a tap-in, the goal went to video review and Skahan was ruled offside and the goal was negated.

Adding to San Jose’s disappointments Saturday was Tsakiris being forced to leave in the 54th minute with an apparent groin injury in the 54th minute. He was replaced by Nick Fernandez.

The Quakes were already without star striker Timo Werner, who suffered an apparent hamstring injury in San Jose’s U.S. Open Cup win over Minnesota FC on Tuesday. There’s no timetable for Werner’s return, but Arena expressed hope he wouldn’t be sidelined for too long.

Daniel did not have a save in goal for San Jose, while Luka Gavran turned away three shots for Toronto.

The Earthquakes, who played to a 2-2 draw in their last trip to Toronto in 2022, lead their all-time series 6-5-9.

Up next

San Jose will host the Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday.

Wire services contributed to this report.