Preview: Austin FC vs. Colorado Rapids - prediction, team news, lineups

Meanwhile, the away side make the trip to Texas aiming to pick up their first win of the new Major League Soccer season at the fifth time of asking.

Match preview

Austin FC were on the receiving end of a 2-0 defeat against Houston Dynamo when the sides went head to head at the Shell Energy Stadium on Sunday.

Having been on top for large spells of the opening 45 minutes, Josh Wolff's men failed to find the back of the net and ended up paying the ultimate price as second-half goals from Amine Bassi and Hector Herrera put them to the sword.

Consequently, The Verde and Black have dropped down to sixth in the Western Conference standings with six points from their four outings this term.

Lying in store next is the challenge of an opposing outfit with little to choose between the teams as the previous five meetings have yielded two wins apiece and one stalemate.

Unbeaten in all but one of their last 12 home matches, Sunday's hosts have turned their home ground into a fortress and will be confident of coming away with a positive result here.

Colorado Rapids suffered a first home defeat since July as they were beaten 2-1 by Minnesota United at the Dick's Sporting Goods Park on Sunday.

Robin Fraser's men broke the deadlock four minutes into the second half through Cole Bassett before strikes from Luis Amarilla and Miguel Tapias turned the game on its head.

Picking up just one point from their opening four games, the Denver-based outfit sit bottom of the Western Conference standings, five points off the last playoff spot.

Currently on a run of three consecutive defeats on the road by a combined score of 9-1, Sunday's visitors set out to turn their away fortunes around and breathe life into what has been a fruitless campaign to date.

Austin FC Major League Soccer form:

D

L

L

W

W

L

Austin FC form (all competitions):

W

L

L

W

W

L

Colorado Rapids Major League Soccer form:

W

D

L

D

L

L

Team News

Austin's Julio Cascante has not featured since late February due to a torn abductor muscle which will rule him out of Sunday's contest as well.

Nineteen-year-old Calvin Fodrey is also out of contention for this weekend's hosts as he continues his long-term battle with a hamstring problem.

Colorado's duo of Dantouma Toure and Aboubacar Keita are both facing extended spells on the sidelines due to ruptured anterior cruciate ligaments.

The away side will also have to cope with the absence of Moise Bombito and Jackson Travis, who are currently nursing knee and abdominal injuries respectively.

Austin FC possible starting lineup:

Stuver; Kolmanic, Vaisanen, Ring, Gallagher; Valencia, Pereira; Fagundez, Driussi, Rigoni; Urruti

Colorado Rapids possible starting lineup:

Yarbrough; Abubakar, Maxso, Wilson, Markanich; Nicholson, Max, Ronan; Bassett, Yapi, Barrios

We say: Austin FC 2-0 Colorado Rapids

Given their recent struggles at both ends of the pitch, it is hard to see Colorado Rapids coming away with a positive result from this one and coupled with Austin's formidable home record, we are tipping the hosts to secure the three points come the end of the 90 minutes.

How to watch

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