The New York Red Bulls have missed the chance to reach the top of the Eastern Conference after playing out a 1-1 draw with the Colorado Rapids.

It took some 12 minutes for the contest to throw up a chance, and it was Sacha Kljestan whose effort was tipped past the post by Clint Irwin.

Mike Grella headed narrowly wide shortly after, before Dominique Badji forced Luis Robles to parry away his effort in the visitors' first chance of the encounter.

It was a sign of things to come for the Rapids, who moved ahead on 25 minutes when Dillion Powers's teasing free kick was headed home by Gabriel Torres.

The lead only lasted five minutes, however, as Ben Newnam conceded a penalty before Bradley Wright-Phillips converted with aplomb to level matters - the first away goal that Colorado had conceded this season.

Unperturbed, the visitors carried on in the same vein and almost went ahead again through Badji, whose effort clipped Robles and trickled against the post.

Red Bulls finished the half strongly and nearly moved ahead when former Leeds United man Lloyd Sam flashed agonisingly wide of Irwin's post.

Irwin was called into action early in the second half to make a save from Matt Miazga, who had been gifted space to meet a free kick with a firm header, and he came to the rescue once again to deny the lively Sam.

The Red Bulls continued to look the most threatening, with Felipe poking the ball just past the post before Irwin tipped away a dangerous cross aimed at Wright-Phillips.

A clever through-ball from Kljestan handed New York the chance to clinch the win late on, but Wright-Phillips could only shoot wide from a tight angle.