Colorado Rapids boss Matt Wells said his players are "motivated and excited" to face Austin FC after their loss to St. Louis City last time out.

The Rapids lost 1-0 to St. Louis on the road, having been on the back foot for the majority of the match after Rob Holding was shown a straight red card after just 12 minutes.

The defeat saw Colorado drop to 13th in the Western Conference, just one place and two points ahead of upcoming opponents Austin.

Wells expects a tough test against Austin, but believes his players are in the right mindset to get a good result at home.

"It will be a difficult game, like they all are," said Wells.

"I think they are a complex team. They have got some very, very good individuals, so we are going to have to be at our best defensively.

"It is also a chance to impose ourselves offensively, which is obviously a chance we did not get at St. Louis after going down to 10 so early.

"We showed a lot of positives that night, even though we did not get a result, so I think the guys are motivated and excited for this game."

Austin returned from the World Cup break with a 3-1 win over the Seattle Sounders, but they lost 3-0 to rivals Houston Dynamo last time out.

Austin have won just one of their last six MLS games (D1 L4) and sit just three points above bottom side Sporting Kansas City in the West.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Colorado Rapids – Paxten Aaronson

Aaronson delivered the assist for the game-winning goal the last time the Rapids scored, on July 23.

He has scored or assisted on each of the Rapids' last four goals, providing the game-winning assists in each of Colorado’s last two wins.

Austin FC – Brad Stuver

Including the playoffs, Stuver has made 725 saves in MLS matches since joining Austin for the 2021 season.

That is more than 200 more saves than any other goalkeeper has made over the last six MLS seasons (regular season and playoffs).

MATCH PREDICTION – COLORADO RAPIDS WIN

Colorado have earned five wins in the all-time regular season series, while Austin have recorded four (D2). All five of the Rapids' wins have been shutouts, while Austin earned their first-ever shutout in the series with a 2-0 victory in their last meeting in June 2025.

The Rapids recorded six multi-goal matches in their first eight regular-season games this season, but have failed to score more than one in any of their last nine MLS matches.

Since the start of May, Colorado has scored an MLS-low four goals, after netting the third-most goals (22) from February to April.

Austin, meanwhile, have been shutout in three straight road matches, the first time they have been shutout in three consecutive road games since March and April 2024.

Austin have never been held scoreless in four straight regular-season away matches.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Colorado Rapids – 54.7%

Draw – 22.7%

Austin FC – 22.6%