COMMERCE CITY, Colo. - Colorado Rapids 2 (15-4-5, 54 pts) will face off against North Texas (7-10-8, 30 pts) at Choctaw Stadium on Sunday, September 3, for Matchday 24 (7:30 p.m. MT; MLSNEXTPro.com).
Rapids 2 enters the Sunday night match off the back of a 2-0 loss to Timbers2 at Providence Park. Colorado showed promise in the second half with dangerous chances from Rémi Cabral and Oliver Larraz and five shots on goals. However, a two goal second half for Timbers2 sealed the three points on the night and handed the Rapids its second road loss of the season.
Colorado will face off against North Texas SC for the third time this season. The first meeting occurred in the early stages of the season and saw Rapids 2 beat North Texas at home for the first time in team history on a 4-2 victory. Defender Logan Batiste scored his first-ever professional goal while fellow defender Blake Malone bagged his second of the season. Midfielders Oliver Larraz and Yosuke Hanya added the additional goals of the match. The second match between the two sides saw a six goal game end in a 3-3 draw at regulation at Choctaw Stadium. Colorado took home two points on the night in a 4-2 shootout win. Forward Caique de Brito opened the night with his second goal of the season followed by a goal apiece from Cabral and Larraz.
North Texas SC is coming off the heels of a 1-0 win over Whitecaps FC 2 at BC Place in the team’s third road match in August. Forward José Mulato scored the lone goal of the night for the Texas side to give them their forth home win of the season. North Texas currently boasts an even 4-4-4 home record with their most recent home win being a 4-0 match against Timbers2. With only three matches left in Texas’ season, the team will need to collect every point they can to make a final push towards a spot in the 2023 MLS NEXT Pro playoffs. As it stands, a loss in regulation against Colorado in the upcoming match would end North Texas’ postseason aspirations.
Rapids 2 has four matches left in the MLS NEXT Pro regular season before taking on the team’s first-ever playoff run. The 2022 season saw Colorado fall 15 points short of the playoff line with a 7-11-6 record. In the current season, Rapids 2 sits in first place in the Western Conference and second overall in the league behind Crown Legacy FC (16-4-4). Austin FC II sits in second place in the Western Conference with a 12-5-8 record, six points behind Rapids 2 in the league’s standings. In order to secure a first round bye in the playoffs, Colorado must maintain its first place standing in the Western Conference.
