Austin II beat Colorado Rapids II 1-0 at St David's Performance Centre on Monday in the MLS Next Pro group stage. The result leaves the hosts top of the table with 62 points after 27 games, while Colorado Rapids II sit seventh with 18 points. By then Austin II had already built a gap that felt insurmountable.
The match unfolded with neither side creating much, until the final moments. Yellow cards accumulated on both sides — J. De La Fuente for Austin II in the 23rd minute, V. Rinaldi for Colorado Rapids II in the 43rd, R. Thomas for the hosts in 45+1, and H. Altayeb for the visitors in 59. N. Tchoumba picked up a booking for Colorado Rapids II in the 87th.
Substitutions came thick and fast from both benches. M. Ruszel went on for Austin II in the 37th, followed by K. Stewart-Baynes for Colorado Rapids II in 46. R. Thomas and S. Dobrijevic were paired for Colorado Rapids II in 64, while E. Heredia and L. Garcia came on for the hosts. D. Abarca and C. Ayala replaced two Austin II players in 78, and V. Rinaldi was withdrawn in 83. S. Siegler came on for Colorado Rapids II in 88.
And here's the thing — the decisive moment arrived late. P. Gryczewski scored for Austin II in the 90+2nd minute. We had backed the home side at 66 per cent confidence, and it paid off. The goal didn't come from sustained pressure; it came from one moment, one chance, and that's how these games often turn.
Statistics tell a different story. Austin II had 49 per cent possession against 51 per cent for the visitors, but 106 attacks to 82. The hosts had five shots on target with 31 per cent accuracy; Colorado Rapids II managed two on target with just 13 per cent. Seven shots off target for Austin II, eleven for the visitors — chances went begging on both sides.
The result extends Austin II's unbeaten run, though their recent form has been mixed. They beat Houston Dynamo II 2-0 on 4 September, lost to Portland Timbers II 1-2 on the 30th, and beat San Jose Earthquakes II 1-0 on the 24th. Colorado Rapids II have struggled — they lost 2-0 to Minnesota United II on 6 September and 3-2 to LA Galaxy II on the 29th.
To be fair, the table doesn't lie. Austin II's 20 wins from 27 games make them the clear leaders. Colorado Rapids II's five wins and 22 defeats paint a starker picture. The goal difference tells the same story — 62 points against 18. This was always going to be a difficult night for the visitors.