(Photo credit: Dustin Safranek-Imagn Images)

Rafeal Navarro's goal in the 18th minute and Zach Steffen's second clean sheet of the season was enough for visiting Colorado Rapid to defeat Austin FC 1-0 on Saturday in an early-season Western Conference match.

The Rapids (1-0-2, 5 points) struck early on, with Navarro finding the net off an assist from Djordje Mihailovic after a pass by Oliver Larraz started the scoring play. Mihailovic threaded a pass on the left side between two Austin defenders and directly onto the foot of Navarro, who avoided Verde goalkeeper Brad Stuver before lifting a soft shot into the open goal.

Austin (1-2-0, 3 points) pressed immediately for the equalizer but Myrto Uzuni's header in the 20th minute from the center of the box bounced off the right post before being gobbled up by Steffen.

Uzuni had another chance in the 43rd minute when Steffen got just enough on a point-blank shot to deflect it off the crossbar and deny the tying goal.

Colorado forced the action in the opening minutes of the second half and produced a shot on goal in the 51st minute by Keegan Rosenberry from outside the box that forced a save by Stuver. Austin countered with its own chances when Brandon Vazquez tested Steffen twice with a low-percentage shots in the 61st and 63rd minutes.

Stuver turned away Cole Bassett in the 73rd minute to keep Austin close and then Steffen stopped Jader Obrian a minute later to allow Colorado to hold on to the lead.

A foul in the box by the Rapids' Omir Fernandez on Austin's Dani Pereira in the 90th minute was initially whistled for a penalty kick but was turned over by a lengthy video review, denying the Verde a chance to tie the game from the spot.

Steffen recorded four saves to earn the 31st shutout of his six-year MLS career.

Austin, who finished last in the West and third worst in the league in 2024 in goals scored with 39, has found the net just once in three matches this season.

--Field Level Media