VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA (AP) -- Jamie Smith, a second-half substitute, scored in the 86th minute to lift the Colorado Rapids into a 2-2 tie with the Vancouver Whitecaps on Sunday.
Smith put in a shot from just inside the 18-yard box after the ball bounced a couple of times off the feet of Vancouver's Alain Rochat and Young-Pyo Lee.
Colorado (9-18-3) avoided a 10th straight road loss that would have extended a club record.
The Whitecaps (10-12-8) remained winless in seven games but moved two points ahead of idle Dallas in the race for the fifth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.
The Rapids improved their playoff hopes slightly, moving within six points of Dallas and staying eight back of Vancouver.
Omar Cummings also scored for the Rapids. Rochat and second-half substitute Kenny Miller had goals for the Whitecaps, who overcame a 1-0, first-half deficit.
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