Colorado Rapids’ dream of claiming a first U.S. Soccer Development Academy Championship ended on Friday night in Carson, California as they agonizingly lost to Texans SC Houston 3-2 on penalties, after the teams were tied at 2-2 after extra-time.
The Rapids thought they had won it inside the regulation 90 minutes. Having come from a goal down, Sam Vines leveled just after the break, before substitute Damen Marcu slammed in a second with 12 minutes left on the clock.
Alex Bruce guided in the Texans’ equalizer in stoppage time, sending the game into extra-time. With no further goals, the tie went to penalties, with the team from Houston hanging on to move into Sunday’s championship game.