After picking up four points from back-to-back road matches, Austin FC II returns to the home comforts of Parmer Field for a Friday night clash with Colorado Rapids 2 on August 23. The match is set to kick off at 8:00 p.m. CT and will be broadcast on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
Austin FC II Outlook
Austin FC II gave its playoff hopes a big boost last time out, picking up a 2-0 victory over Sporting Kansas City II. CJ Fodrey scored his team-high fifth goal of the season to get things going in the 50th minute, while Austin FC Academy product Ervin Torres added his third to seal the deal.
Jimmy Farkarlun and Rubén Bonachera tallied assists on those goals and now co-lead the team with four assists each this season. Austin has fared well in each of its last three home matches, recording a regulation win over Real Monarchs and a pair of penalty shootout wins over Portland Timbers 2 and North Texas SC.
The Verde & Black are now seven points below the playoff line in the MLS NEXT Pro Western Conference with eight games remaining and have either one or two games in hand on every team above them in the table.
Colorado Rapids 2 Outlook
Colorado is in 12th place in the MLSNP Western Conference on 22 points. The team has recently been in a decent run of form, winning three of its last five matches including an away victory against Vancouver Whitecaps 2.
Marlon Vargas is Rapids 2’s most dangerous attacker. The 23-year-old has eight goals and five assists to his name to this point. Keeping Vargas quiet will be key if Austin are to collect three points on Friday night.
The match will mark Colorado’s second visit to Parmer Field and the third meeting overall between the teams this season. ATXFC II won 2-1 at Colorado on May 3, and Rapids 2 grabbed two points in Austin on June 7 by winning the penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw in regulation.
