Cole Bassett and Rafael Navarro each scored a goal as the Colorado Rapids blanked Austin FC 2-0 on Saturday night in Commerce City, Colo.
Bassett got the Rapids on the board in the first half, and Navarro gave the hosts a two-goal cushion early in the second as Colorado (7-7-4, 25 points) picked up three points for the first time since a 1-0 win its home field over the Vancouver Whitecaps on May 15. The Rapids avoided a third straight loss.
Zack Steffen had to make only one save to earn his fourth clean sheet of the season for Colorado.
Austin FC (6-7-5, 23 points) took their third straight setback. They have not won since beating Sporting Kansas City 3-2 on May 18. Austin is 0-3-1 in its past four matches, and it has scored just one goal over its past three.
Navarro doubled Colorado's lead in the 49th minute, putting the rebound of Bassett's shot into a wide-open net for his team-leading 10th goal of the season.
Austin controlled possession in the first half, but Colorado led 1-0 after 45-plus minutes.
Bassett opened the scoring in the 22nd minute, one-timing a pass from Omir Fernandez from just outside the penalty area for his sixth goal of the year -- matching his career best, set last season.
The Rapids midfielder nearly notched his second goal of the first half in the 41st minute, but Austin goalkeeper Brad Stuver got a hand on Bassett's right-footed strike to deflect it wide.
Then, in first-half stoppage time, Bassett put a right-footed strike just wide of the goal right before the whistle.
Colorado's first quality chance came in the third minute, but a diving Stuver saved Navarro's left-footed attempt.
The two sides wrap up the two-match season series on Oct. 19 when Colorado travels to Austin.
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