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Navarro’s Late Strike Lifts Rapids Past Austin FC

Rafael Navarro scored in stoppage time to secure a 1-0 victory for Colorado Rapids over visiting Austin FC at Dick's Sporting Goods Park on Sunday.

Owen Iverson

August 2, 20261 min read

Soccer victory celebration - illustration, Jake Team LLC
Soccer victory celebration - illustration, Jake Team LLC
MLSFinal
Austin FC0
Colorado Rapids1

August 2, 2026

A Moment of Truth

It took until the final breath of regulation to decide the outcome, but when it came, Rafael Navarro delivered exactly what Colorado needed. In the 94th minute, the striker found the back of the net for the only goal of the contest, granting the home side a narrow 1-0 win over Austin FC.

The Deciding Goal

The match remained deadlocked until the dying moments of the game. Navarro’s strike in the 90'+4' minute broke the tie and proved to be the difference-maker. With no other goals registered by either squad, that single effort stood as the sole determinant of the result.

Statistical Standouts

While the scoreline was tight, the individual performances offered clear distinctions. For Colorado Rapids, Navarro was not only the hero but also the most active attacker in front of goal, registering a match-high seven total shots. On the other side, Austin FC’s Brad Stuver worked tirelessly to keep his team in the contest, making seven saves despite the eventual loss.

Myrto Uzuni provided some offensive pressure for the visitors with three shots on target.

Record Implications

The victory improves Colorado Rapids' standing to 7-1-10 for the season. Conversely, the defeat drops Austin FC to a record of 4-5-9. Both teams continue their campaigns with this result marking a pivotal moment in their respective seasons.

Sources

https://www.espn.com/soccer/match/_/gameId/761707

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Owen Iverson

Owen Iverson covers Dallas high school and area college sports.

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