Rafael Navarro converted a penalty kick in the fourth minute of second-half stoppage time to give the Colorado Rapids a 1-0 victory over Austin FC on Saturday night in Commerce City, Colo.
Darren Yapi fired a shot from outside the box that Austin goalkeeper Brad Stuver punched away with a diving save. But as Navarro chased down the rebound just inside the penalty area, he was fouled by Przemyslaw Placheta, and a penalty kick was awarded.
Navarro tucked the ensuing penalty inside the lower left corner as Stuver dove to his right.
Rapids goalkeeper Nico Hansen saved a shot from Myrto Uzuni in the 98th minute to preserve his third clean sheet of the season.
Stuver recorded seven saves while Hansen registered three. Austin (4-9-5, 17 points) is still in search of its first MLS road win of the season (0-7-3).
Colorado (7-10-1, 22 points) started on the front foot, earning five corner kicks in the opening 15 minutes. The Rapids finished with an 11-0 advantage over the Verde in corners.
In the fifth minute, Paxten Aaronson’s in-swinging corner found Rapids teammate Loic Williams, whose header was blocked.
Moments later, Aaronson again delivered a dangerous ball into the box, and Wayne Frederick met it at the back post, heading it into the top of the netting.
Hansen went to his knees to smother Uzuni’s shot after it skipped through the wall on a free kick from just outside the penalty area in the 22nd minute.
Aaronson created another chance from a corner in the 44th minute, picking out Frederick at the back post. This time, however, Frederick’s header found the side netting.
Colorado’s Georgi Minoungou threatened in the 46th minute, sending a shot toward the far post from the left side of the box that was deflected Stuver.
Joseph Rosales’ cross in the 63rd minute was ticketed for Brandon Vazquez. The pass pulled Hansen off his line, but Vazquez whiffed on the header.
Colorado finished with 60.5% of the possession and an 8-3 advantage in shots on goal.
–Field Level Media
