Colorado Rapids take top spot in MLS with two games remaining

Kevin Doyle scored two goals and the Colorado Rapids beat San Jose 2-1 on Thursday night to take the MLS overall lead and eliminate the Earthquakes from playoff contention.

Associated Press

Oct 14 2016 · 6:59 a.m.

Tim Howard. Colorado Rapids during game against FC Dallas at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, July 23, 2016. Rapids took the lead in the first half, and lost the lead when DC Dallas scored in the second half and the game ended in a tie 1-1. (Jessica Taves/For Denverite)

jessica taves; denverite; colorado rapids; fc dallas; sports; soccer; colorado; denver; — Colorado Rapids goalkeeper Tim Howard during a July game. (Jessica Taves/For Denverite)

Kevin Doyle scored two goals and the Colorado Rapids beat San Jose 2-1 on Thursday night to take the MLS overall lead and eliminate the Earthquakes from playoff contention.

Colorado (15-5-12, 57 points) won its third in a row to surpass FC Dallas (56 points) in the standings. The Rapids visit the Portland Timbers on Saturday and host the Houston Dynamo to finish the season the following week.

Doyle capped the scoring on a penalty kick in the 73rd minute, beating San Jose goalkeeper David Bingham with a shot up the middle. He made it 1-0 in the 38th minute with a diving header to finish Marc Burch’s cross.

Chris Wondolowski tied it for the Quakes (8-11-13) on a penalty kick in the 57th minute.

It was the Rapids’ first victory over San Jose since the 2011 season.

Colorado Rapids goalkeeper Tim Howard during a July game. (Jessica Taves/For Denverite)