COMMERCE CITY, Colo. – Colorado Rapids 2 (6-13-3, 22 pts.) will travel to Texas for the second time in a week to face off against the top team in the Western Conference, North Texas SC (12-4-6, 46 pts.), on Sunday, September 1. Kickoff at Choctaw Stadium is set for 6:45 p.m. MT with coverage available on MLSNEXTPro.com.
Colorado is entering its second match in Texas in just 10 days. The team’s last match marked one of its hardest-fought games of the season, playing Austin FC II to a 4-3 result. Ultimately, the Rapids fell just short of three points with Austin scoring two last-minute goals to give the home side the win on the night.
Captain Marlon Vargas proved to be the stronghold for Colorado, scoring his first brace to bring his season total to 10 goals. Midfielder Ricardo Peña added the second of the match off a free kick service from Vargas to mark his first goal of the season for Rapids 2.
As the team heads into Sunday’s match, they will prepare to take on North Texas SC for the third and final time this season. The two teams traded scorelines in their first two meetings of the season with North Texas taking the first win in a 2-0 result and Colorado earning the second in a 2-0 victory.
The win was highlighted by the team’s first clean sheet performance in 2024. First Team goalkeeper Ethan Bandré put up three saves on the night to earn his first clean sheet since joining the Rapids at the beginning of the 2024 season. Meanwhile, Honduran forward Antony García accomplished a feat of his own, scoring his first of two braces this season. The league recognized García’s performance by naming him the MLS NEXT Pro Player of the Matchday.
The all-time series between these two teams stands at an even 3-2-3 record. While the Rapids continue to fight for a spot in the 2024 MLS NEXT Pro playoffs, North Texas has had a steady season at the top of the Western Conference standings. The win for the Rapids would help boost its position in the standings while a win for North Texas would mean a guaranteed spot in this year’s playoff run.
