“Ervin Torres, introduced just six minutes after coming on as a substitute, is booked for persistent fouling — a yellow card that underlined the rising tension and physical battle that had developed in the second half as Austin worked to disrupt Colorado's rhythm.”
“Rafael Navarro converts a 90th-minute penalty to give Colorado Rapids a 1-0 win, breaking Austin's determined defensive resistance after a match in which the Rapids had dominated but failed to score through open play. Navarro was immediately booked after the celebration, while Myrto Uzuni was also carded for his reaction to the decision.”
Pivotal
Colorado Rapids
Austin
Outstanding performance
Austin•GoalkeeperColorado Rapids controlled this match from first whistle to last, finishing with 64% possession, 23 shots, 11 corners, and a staggering 76 dangerous attacks to Austin's 13, yet somehow could not find the net until the dying seconds. The Rapids were relentlessly one-directional in their approach — dominating territory and pinning Austin back — but were let down by wastefulness in front of goal, missing three of their four big chances. Austin, to their credit, made themselves very hard to break down, with goalkeeper Myrto Uzuni's side registering seven saves to keep the score level deep into added time, though Uzuni's composure deserted him after the penalty decision, earning a yellow card for dissent. The breakthrough finally came via the spot kick, converted by Rafael Navarro in the 90th minute after a foul was given, completing a hugely frustrating evening for the Rapids that nonetheless ended with all three points — a result that will feel more like relief than satisfaction. For Austin, who limited Colorado to just one goal despite such sustained pressure, the defeat stings precisely because they defended so well for so long and have nothing to show for it.
How entertaining was this match?
Yellow card issued.
Darren Yapi takes a right-footed shot, but it is saved.
Darren Yapi takes a right-footed shot, but it is saved.
Alex Harris takes a left-footed shot but misses.
Rafael Navarro Leal attempts a header but misses the shot.
Corner awarded.
Shot by Alex Harris is blocked.
Paxten Aaronson takes a right-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Miguel Angel Navarro Zarate takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Paxten Aaronson has a shot with his right foot, but it is blocked.
Miguel Angel Navarro Zarate takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Joseph Yeramid Rosales Erazo takes a left-footed shot but misses.
Rafael Navarro Leal takes a shot with his right foot, but it's saved.
Christian Ramirez comes on for Brandon Vazquez.
Georgi Minoungou takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Corner awarded.
Jayden Nelson comes on for Jon Gallagher.
Corner awarded.
Yellow card issued to Joseph Yeramid Rosales Erazo.
Yellow card issued.
Shot - Darren Yapi Head Shot Missed
Shot - Loic Williams Head Shot Missed
Rafael Navarro Leal's header is saved.
On Ilie Sanchez Farres comes on, Owen Wolff goes off.
Substitution: Facundo Torres is coming off.
Brandon Vazquez takes a shot with his head, but it's saved.
Darren Yapi comes on for Dante Sealy.
Substitution: Donavan Phillip comes on for Wayne Frederick.
Corner awarded.
Corner awarded.
Joshua Atencio is on, and Hamzat Ojediran is off.
Facundo Torres takes a left-footed shot but misses.
Brandon Vazquez attempts a header but misses the shot.
Wayne Frederick takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Georgi Minoungou takes a left-footed shot, but it is saved.
The first half ends with a score of 0-0.
Wayne Frederick takes a shot but misses the target.
Corner awarded.
Corner awarded.
Dante Sealy takes a left-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Corner awarded.
Offside.
Offside.
Paxten Aaronson takes a left-footed shot, but it's saved.
Paxten Aaronson takes a left-footed shot, but it is saved.
Besard Sabovic takes a right-footed shot, but it's saved.
Myrto Uzuni takes a right-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Myrto Uzuni takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Brandon Vazquez takes a right-footed shot, but it's blocked.
Corner awarded.
Corner awarded.
Offside.
Corner awarded.
Offside.
Wayne Frederick takes a shot but misses.
Georgi Minoungou takes a left-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Corner awarded.
Rafael Navarro Leal takes a shot with his right foot, but it's saved.
Hamzat Ojediran takes a right-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Corner awarded.
Kick-off! The referee is Armando Villarreal.
Two Western Conference sides separated by just two points and both desperately chasing playoff relevance collide at Dick's Sporting Goods Park on Sunday. Colorado look to bounce back from a chastening road defeat while Austin FC arrive winless away from home and licking their wounds after a 3-0 hammering in Houston.
