AUSTIN, Texas — Austin FC lost its third straight match after losing to the Colorado Rapids on Saturday, 1-0.
This was the second time the two clubs have faced off after the Verde got a 3-1 road win back in April. The last win going into Saturday's match was the 4-1 scoring clinic Austin FC put on the Portland Timbers earlier this month.
Colorado's Andre Shinyashiki scored his third goal of the season in the 29th minute and the visiting Colorado Rapids held on for a victory over Austin FC on Saturday night at Q2 Stadium.
"It's pretty unfortunate, we got a little unlucky. Julio goes to address the ball and Matt gets himself into a really good position to cut out the first ball. It's just really unfortunate that it clears right into Julio's knee as he turns around and it falls to Colorado's feet. Then I come out and make a save on the initial one and somehow it stays right there and he's able to toe-poke the ball in," Austin FC goalkeeper Brad Stuver said. "It's one of those that are frustrating because you feel like they didn't earn it. It's almost like luck was on there side, and they were able to capitalize on a moment where we weren't flawless."
PHOTOS: Austin FC vs. Colorado Rapids
Austin FC finished the first half with one of its five shots on goal. Colorado put four of its nine shots on goal and could have built a 3-0 lead late, but two highlight-reel saves by goalkeeper Brad Stuver kept the Rapids off the scoreboard any further.
Austin FC had its own decent goal scoring opportunities as well, including near the end of the first half when team captain Alex Ring put a set piece header over the bar, and also when Rodney Redes got behind the Colorado defense but couldn’t set his feet for a shot.
"It's one thing if you're reaching to toe-poke the ball, and it's another thing if you're putting your foot in just from a preventative state. And that's what it looked like and ends up making contact with Rodney, which throws off his swing and he clips the ground. I'm not sure how that's not a penalty," Austin FC head coach Josh Wolff said.
Hector Jiménez nearly put on on frame from deep, and Diego Fagundez forced Colorado defender Lalas Abubakar to make a goal line clearance. Austin FC's Tomás Pochettino also misfired over the bar in 63rd minute after a promising feed put him near the penalty spot.
Austin FC had 11 shots on goal with only two on target, something that Josh Wolff says the team needs to improve at. Wolff credited the five-man backline, once again (Seattle also runs with five in the back), to the difficulty of scoring.
"We've played a number of teams now that play this 5-3-2 or 5-4-1, so it's challenging," Wolff said. "We got to find solutions. Until you show people that you can score goals and create more dangerous chances, we are going to see this. It's a structure that's becoming more common. We had some decent chances, but we're also missing the frame from decent areas."
Austin FC will host one more home game against the Houston Dynamo on Wednesday before heading on another road stint. It will be the first time Austin has played another Texas-based team in MLS regular season action. The two clubs have played each other in preseason play, however. Houston Dynamo defeated Austin FC 3-2 in the La Copita preseason tournament.
PEOPLE ARE ALSO READING: