THE LATE, LATE, LATE, LATE SHOW: Barlow’s goal in 107th minute spares Red Bulls’ blushes, gives them a draw; MLS investigates Vanzeir’s comments

Tom Barlow celebrates his tying goal with Kyle Duncan. (Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports)

By Michael Lewis

FrontRowSoccer.com Editor

The Red Bulls can thank an MLS-record 22 minutes of stoppage time to help them avoid another loss, snap their scoreless streak and pull out a late draw and point at Red Bulls Arena.

Second-half substitute Tom Barlow scored in the 17th minute of injury time to salvage a 1-1 draw with the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday night.

The goal was latest in league history, will go down as he scored in the 107th minute. Barlow slotted home a rebound of a Kyle Duncan shot that was saved by goalkeeper JT Marcinkowski from four yards for the much-needed equalizer.

The huge amount of stoppage time occurred because forward Dante Vanzeir allegedly used offensive language against a San Jose player early in the second half. His comments are being investigated by the league.

Earthquakes forward Jeremy Ebobisse claimed after the game that it was a “racist remark,” though he did not believe it was directed at him.

Cristian Espinoza struck for the Quakes’ lone goal in the 80th minute of the match, which needed those extra minutes to complete the encounter due to a long delay after a San Jose player claimed that a Red Bulls player uttered an offensive word to him in the 54th minute.

The Red Bulls (1-2-4, 7 points) hadn’t scored in 227 minutes or since Elias Manoel tallied in the 43rd minute of a 1-1 draw at Charlotte FC on March 25. They have been blanked four times this season and scored only four goals.

To be fair, the Red Bulls were missing two of their biggest attacking threats – Lewis Morgan and Luquinhas – but then again their lack of scoring prowess has been a problem the past several seasons.

The Quakes (3-2-2, 11) are still looking for their first win at RBA.

It might have been a scoreless first half, although both sides had a chance or two to break the ice.

Dante Vanzeir, making his first start of the MLS season, headed a left-wing cross by Cristian Casseres, Jr. wide left in the sixth minute.

Eight minutes later, Dylan Nealis headed a close-range attempt that was saved by Marcinkowski.

As the half was coming to a close, Quakes midfielder Jackson Yueill, who enjoyed an outstanding first half, sent a 40-yard chip shot toward the Red Bulls goal that cracked off the crossbar and past the leaping goalkeeper, Carlos Coronel, for the visitors’ best scoring opportunity up until that point (43rd minute).

Things got pretty heated up in the 56th minute when Judson upended Dylan Nealis with a hard tackle at midfield.  He was slapped with a yellow card, as was Dylan’s brother, Red Bulls defender and captain Sean Nealis, for dissent.

The game then was held up for 16 minutes after a San Jose player accused a Red Bulls counterpart for saying something offensive. The visiting side was quite peeved and upset. With tempers from both teams flaring, referee Ismir Pekmic decided to stop play with the goal of cooling things off.

Play eventually resumed in the 72nd minute, leading to 16 minutes of stoppage time, most likely a league record.

About a minute after play started, Vanzeir tried a bicycle kick in front of the Earthquakes goal, that he skied well over the crossbar and into the stands.

Espinoza found the range in the 80th minute. Red Bulls Corey Burke lost possession on the left side of the defensive third. Carlos Gruezo then sent a diagonal pass to Espinoza on the right side and he worked his way into the box before rifling a 12-yard shot off his left foot past Coronel for his fourth goal in seven contests.

After the goal, the Red Bulls pushed forward for the equalizer.

Their best chance came four minutes into stoppage time when Duncan’s 13-yard blast forced Marcinkowski to parry his shot over the bar, setting up Barlow’s 12th hour heroics.