COMMERCE CITY, Colo. – Colorado Rapids 2 (1-3-1, 4 pts) is slated to face North Texas SC (1-0-3, 8 points) on Sunday, April 21, for the teams’ first meeting of the 2024 season. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. MT (MLSnextpro.com) at the University of Denver Soccer Stadium.
Rapids 2 enters the match following a loss to Portland Timbers2 on the road, falling 2-0 at Providence Park to deliver the first regular-season win of the year for Timbers2. It was the first match this season Rapids 2 had been held scoreless.
Recent signing and forward Facundo Núñez made his first start for the club in the matchup, playing a total of 62 minutes.
“He’s come in and he's had to jump straight into matches. This is where his learning and training has really begun, which isn't necessarily a bad thing if you're the player,” said Head Coach Erik Bushey of Núñez after the game. “He’s a durable young man. He's built well. He can dish it out, he can take it. And I do believe that he's got a lot to offer if we can get him in the right places and in front of goal.”
North Texas is fresh off their first win of the season after beating Tacoma Defiance 2-1 at home. Forward Tarik Scott scored his second goal of the season and midfielder Enes Sali scored his first goal of the year in the team’s fourth unbeaten result of 2024.
“We’re still working on, as crazy as it might sound, getting used to one another and playing and feeling as though we are a team,” said Bushey. “We’re not waiting for a bit of luck. We're looking in different ways that we can create some luck for ourselves.”
Colorado and North Texas have split points evenly in their history, tallying a 2-2-2 record across the regular season. They faced off three times in 2023, with Rapids 2 earning two wins and a draw. Their most recent meeting resulted in a 3-2 win for Colorado after a back-and-forth battle for the advantage was ultimately decided by striker Rémi Cabral in the second half’s stoppage time.
Fans can purchase tickets to Sunday’s match at the University of Denver Soccer Stadium here.
