Austin FC will attempt to continue their move toward a spot into the postseason when they host the enigmatic Colorado Rapids on Wednesday in a Western Conference clash.
Austin heads to the midweek match in 14th place in the West but only five points behind ninth-place San Diego FC in the race for the conference’s play-in game with 11 matches to play.
The Verde (6-10-7, 25 points) play at home for the second time in five days, with the first match a 1-1 draw with San Jose on Saturday. Guilherme Biro scored the equalizer seven minutes into second-half stoppage time on the match’s final kick to help Austin remain unbeaten in its past four MLS contests.
Biro brings loads of intensity to the pitch and his balance of goal-scoring chances and potential foul-worthy play can walk a fine line.
“I have a hard time telling players to dial back their intensity,” Austin FC interim head coach Davy Arnaud said about Biro. “This is a competitive game, and when you’re driven to win, you have a desire to win, you have to flirt with that line and sometimes you know it leads to cards or something else.
“You can’t cross the line and be undisciplined. You certainly appreciate the things that Biro does and the intensity that he plays with. He gives everything every game, and you can’t ask for more than that.”
Colorado (10-12-1, 31 points) rests in seventh place in the West despite a 3-0 loss at Columbus on Saturday. The Rapids have alternated between wins and losses over their past four matches and are 5-3 in their eight league games since returning from the World Cup break.
One of those shutout victories was a 1-0 home decision against Austin on Aug. 1 in which Rafael Navarro’s penalty in second-half stoppage time provided the winning goal. Navarro has since been sent to St. Louis City for $12 million, marking the largest cash-for-player trade package in MLS history.
It’s been all or nothing for Colorado over that stretch as all five of those wins (all at home) have been via clean sheets while the team has been held without a goal in all three of the defeats, each on the road.
Colorado has dropped all 12 of its games this year when it conceded the first goal.
“In what team sport can you be successful if you can’t perform when there’s a little bit of adversity, or you’re behind in a game?” Rapids coach Matt Wells said. “It’s my biggest frustration. Seeing zero points in those games where we go down a goal.”
The Rapids have won three of the past five games they’ve played against Austin.
–Field Level Media
