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EspañolLoons vs. FC Cincinnati: Keys to the match, storylines and a prediction
Minnesota United vs. FC Cincinnati
When: 3:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: Allianz Field
Stream: Apple TV
Radio: KSTP-AM, 1500
Weather: 18 degrees, overcast, 8 mph south wind
Betting line: MNUFC plus-105; draw plus-265; Cincinnati plus-210
Form: MNUFC (0-0-1, 1 point) earned a 2-2 draw with Austin FC in the season opener after Kelvin Yeboah scored in the 90th minute last Saturday. Cincinnati (1-0-0, 3 points) got two second-half goals for a 2-0 win over Atlanta United last week.
Big question: Will the stars play?
MNUFC midfielder James Rodriguez completed his first full week of training this week and head coach Cameron Knowles said the Colombian star will be available to make his MLS debut. Knowles said James’ first game for Minnesota is not inevitable this weekend and his possible role will be determined how the game plays out and what it needs. A role off the bench seems most likely.
Cincinnati midfielder Evander subbed out of the season opener with an apparent hamstring injury, but coach Pat Noonan didn’t rule out the one-name Brazilian for this weekend.
Context: It will be one of the coldest home games in Loons’ history and Knowles knows his team needs give fans a reason to bundle up and endure the weather.
“One, to be very difficult to breakdown, and two, to entertain,” Knowles said. “… It’s going to be cold. We want to give them energy as much as they give it to us.”
Check-in: For late February, Allianz Field’s natural grass surface got positive reviews from Knowles and captain Michael Boxall.
“The pitch is in fantastic condition considering the time of year,” Knowles said.
Comment: Knowles expressed support for former Loons manager Eric Ramsay, who was fired by West Bromwich Albion earlier this week. Ramsay was winless in nine total games for the club in the English second-tier.
“He’s a fantastic person and obviously a fantastic coach and hopefully his next opportunity is a good one for him,” Knowles said.
Scouting report: The Loons conceded two goals last week — one on a corner kick and one on a back-post finish. They will need to clean up its defensive issues against striker Kevin Denkey. The former Cercle Brugge player had 15 goals in MLS last season and one already this campaign.
Prediction: Cincinnati finished second in the MLS’ overall standings last season and appear to be ready for another top-tier season. But what the heck, let’s predict pure cinema: Minnesota gets a winning-goal contribution from James’ left foot in crunch time. Loons win 2-1.
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Regional cup draws to take place this Tuesday
Draws will be on Tuesday Credits: João Gabriel Alves/CBF
The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) will hold the draws for the Copa do Nordeste, Copa Verde, and Copa Sul-Sudeste on Tuesday (3), starting at 2 PM. The event will take place at the entity's headquarters in Rio de Janeiro (RJ) and will be broadcast by CBF TV.
COPA DO NORDESTE
A total of 20 clubs will compete in the Copa do Nordeste. In the first phase, the teams will be divided into four groups with five clubs each.
There will be 60 matches over ten dates, with a maximum of 10 dates for the finalists. The champion of the 2026 Copa do Nordeste will secure a spot in the third phase of the 2027 Copa do Brasil.
The 20 participating clubs will begin their quest for the title on March 25. The champion will be known on June 7, when the second leg of the final is scheduled.
COPA VERDE
The Copa Verde was created by the CBF in 2014. This year, the competition reaches its 13th edition. It will be the largest Copa Verde in history, with 24 clubs from the North, Central-West regions, and Espírito Santo, divided into two blocks with 12 clubs each: the Copa Norte and the Copa Centro-Oeste. The champion of each will secure a spot in the third phase of the 2027 Copa do Brasil.
There will be 70 matches over ten dates, with at least six games for 12 clubs, a maximum of 10 games for the finalists, starting on March 25 and ending on June 7, a period exclusive to the competition. The competition is divided into four phases: in the first, the 24 clubs are divided into four groups of six clubs, with two from the Copa Norte and two from the Copa Centro-Oeste.
COPA SUL-SUDESTE
Created by the CBF to be contested starting this season, the first edition of the Copa Sul-Sudeste will feature 12 clubs, with teams from the South and Southeast regions participating. The champion will secure a spot in the third phase of the 2027 Copa do Brasil.
There will be 42 matches over ten dates, with at least six games for 12 clubs, a maximum of 10 games for the finalists, starting on March 25 and ending on June 7, a period exclusive to the competition. The Copa Sul-Sudeste will have three phases: in the first phase, each club will play three home games and three away games; the semifinals and final will be decided in home-and-away matches.
PRESS ACCREDITATION
Journalists interested in covering the event must register via email: [email protected]. The message must include full name, CPF, company, role, and contact phone number. The registration deadline is until 2 PM this Monday (2). Incomplete and late requests will not be accepted.
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.
Liverpool Are Trailing Arsenal In Pursuit Of This Newcastle United Winger: What Should Slot Do?
In a recent report, The Sun stated that Liverpool are trailing Arsenal in pursuit of Newcastle United winger Anthony Gordon. It has been mentioned that the Reds are facing competition from the Gunners and Manchester United in the race to sign the English wide player next summer.
Gordon’s Impressive Form In English Football
Gordon is having an excellent campaign at the Tyneside club as he has produced a series of productive displays for them in the Premier League. The Liverpool-born talent has participated in 38 matches for Newcastle this season, scoring 14 goals and earning five assists across multiple competitions.
The 25-year-old is currently among the most feared attackers in European football. Thus, it makes sense for Liverpool to step up their chase to land him at the end of this campaign.
Gordon’s current deal at St. James’ Park will run out in the summer of 2029, which could make it tough for the Reds to sign him on the cheap later this year.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 21: Anthony Gordon of Newcastle United during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Newcastle United at Etihad Stadium on February 21, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)
What Should Liverpool Boss Arne Slot Do With Regards To Gordon?
Gordon can use his pace well to get in behind the opponent’s backline at every chance he can get. He is a great dribbler with the ball at his feet and has got the vision to create some inviting chances for his teammates in and around the opponent’s penalty area.
The English wing wizard can strike the ball purely from long range and can contribute by scoring and creating his fair share of goals up top. Gordon is primarily a left-winger but can also operate as a right-sided wide player or as a centre-forward if asked to do so by his manager.
We can expect Gordon to bring more pace and firepower to Liverpool head coach Arne Slot’s frontline. He has what it takes to earn regular first-team football at Anfield and could serve as an ideal, long-term replacement for Mohamed Salah at the Merseyside club.
At 25, Gordon has his peak years ahead of him, which makes him an excellent option for the Reds to consider at the end of this season. With all things considered, Slot would be wise to go all out to win the race for his services in the upcoming summer transfer period.
Packers hire Cam Achord as special-teams coordinator
GREEN BAY – It didn’t take special-teams assistant Cam Achord long to convince Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur he should replace Rich Bisaccia as the team’s special-teams coordinator.
Achord was the last of a series of interviews LaFleur conducted in Green Bay with candidates seeking the coordinator position.
PackersNews confirmed that LaFleur chose Achord after interviewing him Friday, Feb. 27. ESPN and NFL Network were the first to report LaFleur’s decision.
The Packers did not announce the hiring.
Achord, a former New York Giants assistant and New England special-teams coordinator beat out Seattle’s Devin Fitzsimmons, Arizona’s Sam Sewell and San Francisco’s Colt Anderson, all of whom also interviewed with LaFleur this week.
New England coach Bill Belichick hired Achord as a special teams assistant in 2018 and promoted him to coordinator in 2020. Achord’s units ranked No. 1 in Rick Gosselin’s annual special-teams ranking in 2020.
In 2022, the Patriots finished 32nd in special teams DVOA, which is a performance measure of every special-teams play compared to the NFL’s average performance. In ’23, they gave up three kick-return touchdowns and in ’24 they ranked 28th. In Gosselin’s rankings, the Patriots fell to 18th in 2021, 16th in 2022 and 13th in 2023.
Achord was not retained when Jerod Mayo replaced Belichick as head coach.
The Giants hired Achord as an assistant under coordinator Michael Ghobrial in 2024.
LaFleur was caught by surprise when Bisaccia resigned Feb. 17. By the time Bisaccia stepped down, every special-teams coordinator position in the league had been filled and it left LaFleur with a small field from which to choose.
Bisaccia was well-liked among Packers players but his units did not perform consistently well. The Packers stuggled in their kicking game and never were able to win field position with their return game.
This article originally appeared on Packers News: Packers hire Cam Achord as special-teams coordinator