BOSTON — The union representing British soccer players will announce on Tuesday the first comprehensive protocol for preventing the brain disease CTE, expanding the heightened concern over concussions to include the damage that can be caused by the less forceful blows from heading the ball.
The guidelines from the Professional Footballers’ Association, which represents current and former players in the Premier League, the FA Women’s Super League and the English Football Leagues, recommend no more than 10 headers per week — including practice — for professionals. Children under 12 shouldn’t head the ball at all, the PFA said, part of a chronic traumatic encephalopathy prevention protocol designed to reduce head impacts across a player’s lifetime.
“CTE is preventable. Period,” Dr. Adam White, Director of Brain Health at the PFA, said on Monday at the first-ever Global CTE Summit, which was held in San Francisco while the NFL descended on the Bay Area for Sunday’s Super Bowl.
“It is the principles of less heading, less force, less often and later in life that matter,” White told The Associated Press. “These could apply to any sport and are the best hope we have of stopping current and future players from the same fate as former generations.”
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The degenerative brain disease now known as CTE was studied in boxers more than a century ago as punch-drunk syndrome and first diagnosed in American football players in 2005. It has since become a concern in hockey, soccer and other contact sports and among combat veterans and others who sustain repeated blows to the head.
A 2017 study found CTE in 110 of 111 brains donated by former NFL players. The disease can only be identified posthumously through an examination of the brain.
The NFL, college football and many other sports have instituted protocols that guide teams and athletes on returning to play after sustaining a possible concussion.
But the British soccer protocol is the first comprehensive plan to combat CTE by addressing the less dramatic, subconcussive blows that can be common in practice, according to Chris Nowinski, the founder of the Concussion and CTE Foundation.
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“For contact sports, CTE prevention protocols are equally important and possibly more important than concussion protocols,” he said.
Among the more recent concerns are the routine head hits sustained by football lineman, and those from soccer players heading the ball. Research funded by the union and the Football Association found that Scottish pros have a risk of dementia that is 3.5 times greater than the general population; studies of brains from British soccer players found the majority had CTE, including Jeff Astle, Gordon McQueen and Chris Nicholl.
“With what we know today about the disease, it would be a failure to our players to do nothing,” White said in a statement. “The science and solutions are clear, it just takes willingness from the sporting bodies to put athletes’ long-term health first and I am pleased that we have been able to do that in England. I encourage all sports to put as much, if not more, effort into CTE prevention protocols as they have concussion protocols.”
The protocol also includes annual education, support for research and care for ex-players who suspect they are living with CTE. It follows the publication of a CTE prevention framework published in 2023 by researchers assembled by the Concussion and CTE Foundation and Boston University’s CTE Center.
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Nowinski called on sports leagues and their medical advisors to adopt CTE prevention protocols.
“There is now overwhelming evidence that more head impacts in sports will result in more athletes with CTE,” Nowinski said. “Sports administrators aren’t risking CTE themselves, but the policies they set are sentencing some athletes to a life with CTE, a burden that will primarily be carried by their spouses and children. Enough is enough.”
Australian teenager Gout Gout has run 200m faster than sprinting great Usain Bolt did at the same age.
The 18-year-old clocked a superb time of 19.67 seconds to win at his national championships on Sunday.
It was the first time that Gout had gone under the 20-second mark legally, after a wind-assisted 19.84 last season, and is the leading time in the world this year.
He had the quickest-ever time by a 16-year-old – setting a national record of 20.06 – when he burst on to the scene in 2024. Sunday’s mark in Sydney was quicker than the Jamaican eight-time Olympic champion’s time of 19.93 back in 2004.
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Aidan Murphy, who was second to Gout, also beat the 20-second mark with a time of 19.88.
“This is what I’ve been waiting for,” said Gout, who was born in Queensland to parents from South Sudan.
“We have such incredible athletes in Australia and me being able to race these athletes, we push each other to the limits. Two Australians sub-20. I mean, this is amazing.
“There’s a big weight off my shoulders knowing I ran it legally, and I have the speed and my body to run times like that. So, it definitely feels great, and ready for more.”
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Gout has indicated that he will skip the Commonwealth Games, which begin in Glasgow on 23 July, to focus on the World Under-20 Championships in Oregon in early August.
It was not an entirely vintage performance from the 37-year-old, who often looked his age as he laboured through 12 rounds at London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, shaking off 16 months of inactivity.
But still, it came as little surprise when Fury called out Joshua, his long-term rival, during his post-fight interview, urging him to sign on the dotted line.
Matching this enthusiasm, Alalshikh suggested their heavyweight dustup could soon be announced, while Joshua responded with a slightly different tone when handed the microphone.
Instead of playing Fury’s game, the 36-year-old decided to take a more measured approach, insisting that nothing is confirmed until both sides are satisfied with the deal.
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But while Joshua represents Fury’s preferred option, ‘The Gypsy King’ equally said at his post-fight press conference that a trilogy showdown with Oleksandr Usyk could also make sense.
“I wanna fight Anthony Joshua – that’s it. Or, if AJ don’t want it, then let’s get Usyk in the trilogy. But I need some f**king fair play.”
Clearly, Fury has maintained his belief that, despite twice being outpointed by Usyk in 2024, he should have had his hand raised on both occasions.
The chance to exact his revenge therefore represents an enticing possibility, while Joshua, who has not fought since stopping Jake Paul in December, may still consider a ‘warm-up’ fight.
Paris-Roubaix is a bike race which rewards guile and experience, one for the battle-hardened pro rather than the wide-eyed youngster. Zoe Backstedt in some ways is both. At 21 she is among the peloton’s younger contingent – but she has an additional weapon in her arsenal: a family history of Paris-Roubaix going back more than 20 years.
Her father, Magnus Backstedt, took the biggest win of his career in the famous Roubaix velodrome in 2004; Zoe and older sister and fellow cyclist Elynor grew up re-watching, analysing and celebrating his race.
“It’s in the family to enjoy this race and to have a special connection to it,” the younger Backstedt tells The Independentover video call,a few days before the 2026 edition. “For me part of it is following what he’s done, and one day I would also like to have a cobblestone to go next to his.”
Magnus’ iconic cobblestone prize lives on a bookshelf in the Backstedt family living room, and his success means that Zoe not only knows the ins and outs of the race – it means she’s aware of what it feels like to lift the trophy, too. “I tell you, if you try and lift it above your head after a race, I don’t think I could do it,” she grins. “[The shelf] now has a dip in it, because it’s just that heavy.”
Magnus raced Paris-Roubaix eight times over the course of his career and has been imparting his wisdom ever since. “He’s told me every single story there is to tell about this race, about every single edition that he’s done, that it was dry, wet, different changes in the course, he knows everything. He knows where every single pothole is on the course, he could tell you literally to a T. So we’ve grown up learning this course as well, watching his race back because as a family, it makes us so proud of his achievement.”
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When we speak Backstedt is fresh from a team recon of five of the 20 cobbled sectors, which make up just over 33km of the 143km women’s race. Her Canyon-SRAM-zondacrypto team rode the first three sectors, which are new to the course this year, and the infamous Carrefour de l’Arbre: the fourth-last sector and one of two rated five stars, the most gruelling of all.
“It’s like a two-parter, you have a really awful, aggressive part to start with, and then it goes across the road, you’ve got a nice” – she checks her wording – “nice, I don’t know, less aggressive sector with a bit of gravel on the side. I made the most of that today, saved myself from the cobblestones, and I’m going to go full in for those on Sunday.”
Paris-Roubaix is one of the most gruelling races on the cycling calendar (AFP via Getty Images)
The race sees the riders swap the cobbles of Flanders in the previous Monument for the harsher pavé of northern France (Belga/AFP via Getty Images)
Many riders speak about Paris-Roubaix with a mix of respect and dread – there’s an element of masochism to the race – but Backstedt relishes it. “Just out there having a bit of fun, and the sun was shining in France – not Belgium,” she says, with the air of someone who has made that mix-up before. “It was super nice to see a bit of the course again.”
Backstedt has ridden Paris-Roubaix three times, finishing 46th on her debut at age 18 and upgrading that to 16th in 2024 and 15th last year. And the Red Bull athlete has every reason to hope she can crack the top 10, or go a step further this time round.
She will be one of the in-form riders on the start line in Denain and impressed in the hilly Tour of Flanders – the only other cobbled Monument – last Sunday. She finished fifth, her best-ever result in the race, backing up a fourth place in Dwars door Vlaanderen a few days prior.
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The Welshwoman was part of an elite group including three-time Flanders winner Lotte Kopecky, eventual winner Demi Vollering and defending Paris-Roubaix champion champion Pauline Ferrand-Prevot over the infamous Koppenberg hill, and later said she had “goosebumps” being in such elite company.
Backstedt has multiple junior and under-23 world titles to her name and is one of the in-form riders of the peloton heading to Paris-Roubaix (Kristof Ramon / Red Bull Content Pool)
She said: “I was really proud of myself. I really didn’t expect to go into the day with the legs that I had and to be able to go over all of these iconic climbs, going over the Koppenberg in the front group of ten, with Kopecky, [Elisa] Longo Borghini, those kinds of riders, and be almost fighting for a podium – that was not on my bingo card for the day!”
Even so, she isn’t satisfied, adding: “It was a shame that I missed those front three that went [Vollering, Ferrand-Prevot and Puck Pieterse, who completed the podium], but what can you do?”
That result means she is full of confidence ahead of Paris-Roubaix, and with good reason: as a former world junior and under-23 cyclo-cross champion, she is well suited to difficult terrain.
She says: “I think it’s a super useful skill to have, just knowing how to handle uneven surfaces and conditions that are very unpredictable, especially if there’s rain at some point, if the cobblestones become super slippery.”
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She was among an elite group of ten at the business end of last Sunday’s Tour of Flanders, won by Demi Vollering (Belga/AFP via Getty Images)
Her success against the clock – she has won both junior and under-23 world titles in time trials too – may also come in handy. “Time trialling is very much an individual pain, an individual effort. Cyclocross is the same: one hour, you’re not riding with any teammates, with tactics, you’re purely riding, constantly with a high heart rate, constantly thinking under pressure. And your whole body is completely dead at the end, the same feeling that I’d have at the end of a time trial.”
And the same as at the end of Paris-Roubaix. “It’s definitely one of those races that you hate in the moment,” she smiles. “And then once you cross the finish line, and you know that you can relax, it’s one of the nicest and most rewarding races. Even to finish, to finish first or last, is such a rewarding thing.
“Going across kilometres of cobblestones that you’re not naturally meant to do, it’s aggressive on your hands, on your legs, on your arms, on your body, all of your muscles are just so tense for four hours. I think that’s also what makes it one of my favourite races, it brings out the strongest riders. The ones that are the front are the ones that can handle all of the pain, that can handle everything that your body is going to go through.”
Backstedt’s cyclo-cross background could give her the edge on Sunday (Kristof Ramon / Red Bull Content Pool)
Unsurprisingly, she has high hopes for Sunday. “It’s my favourite race of the whole season, so I’m hoping that the team will give me the chance to be the leader,” she says frankly. “Of course the whole race is a little bit based on luck, you can have a puncture one kilometre before the most important sector, and then your whole race is done, or someone can crash in front of you. There’s so many unknowns that you can’t really go in with too much expectation.
“But for sure, I want to be better than last year. I mean, I would love to do a top five like I did on the weekend, but I know that’s also going to be hard, so no expectation, no pressure for myself. It’s just going and having fun, racing the bike, and see what I can do.”
And if the 21-year-old can come away with a slab of French rock it will be not just a triumph for her and the team, but for a family bound up in the history of this race, a triumph 22 years in the making.
Former India player Aakash Chopra has highlighted the Mumbai Indians’ (MI) selection conundrum heading into their IPL 2026 clash against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). He noted that the five-time champions have multiple choices to make in the bowling department, pointing out that virtually all their bowlers have proved very expensive.
MI will host RCB in the 20th game of IPL 2026 in Mumbai on Sunday, April 12. While the home team is placed eighth on the points table with two points from three games, the visitors have garnered four points from three matches and are third in the standings.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel, ‘Aakash Chopra,’ the former India opener noted that MI have struggled with their bowling, with Jasprit Bumrah being the only bowler to have an economy of less than 10 in IPL 2026, and would have to choose between Trent Boult and Corbin Bosch and between Deepak Chahar and Ashwani Kumar in the seam-bowling department.
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“Plenty of questions. A good team, but you (MI) have lost two of the three matches. It’s not a good story. Will you stay with Trent Boult? If you want to stay with Trent Boult, you will have to bowl him more overs with the new ball. Do you want to stay or go? You will have to answer that question,” Chopra said.
“Do you want to keep Deepak Chahar or play Ashwani Kumar? You will have to answer that question as well because the bowling is struggling. Only one bowler has an economy in single digits. Everyone else, who has played two or more matches, is in double digits,” he added.
Aakash Chopra also wondered whether the Mumbai Indians would want to try Raghu Sharma as a spinner, urging them to stick with Allah Ghazanfar ahead of Mitchell Santner. He added that MI might consider playing Will Jacks in place of Sherfane Rutherford if the England all-rounder is available.
“I have a suggestion for you” – Aakash Chopra on a potential change in RCB’s playing 12 for IPL 2026 clash vs MI
RCB suffered a six-wicket loss in their IPL 2026 clash against RR (Image via iplt20.com)
In the same video, Aakash Chopra wondered whether RCB should bring in Jacob Bethell at Phil Salt’s expense for their IPL 2026 clash against MI.
“If you (RCB) lose this, your situation will be like Delhi’s, with two wins and two losses. I have a suggestion for you. Do you want to play Jacob Bethell in place of Phil Salt? Phil Salt doesn’t keep in any case. Jitesh Sharma is doing the keeping,” he said.
The cricketer-turned-commentator pointed out that Bethell had scored a blazing century in the T20 World Cup 2026 semi-final against India at the same venue.
“I am thinking about Jacob Bethell because of how well he batted at this ground. He was absolutely brilliant in the T20 World Cup semi-final. Would you want to play him? Phil Salt is not scoring runs. You can make Devdutt Padikkal open. Bring Bethell in place of Phil Salt, and keep him at No. 3,” Chopra observed.
Aakash Chopra pointed out that Jacob Bethell will also give RCB another left-arm spin option. He highlighted that MI have many right-handers in their batting lineup.
Graveyard Keeper is a very interesting simulation game where you have to do some shady graveyard work to make money and unlock new technologies to progress.
There are many tasks at hand such as expanding your church and spreading your influence that requires a lot of paperwork in Graveyard Keeper. Doing the paperwork also requires a lot of writing supplies and ink, and crafting ink can be confusing if you are starting out.
While you can buy ink from the Astrologer early on, crafting it yourself is essential to avoid spending money on something that is very important in the gameplay. Here is a straightforward, step-by-step guide to producing your own ink from scratch in Graveyard Keeper.
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Guide to making ink in Graveyard Keeper
You need to make black paint in Graveyard Keeper before making ink (Image via Lazy Bear Games || YouTube@jamasinplays)
Before you can start mixing ingredients, you must unlock the necessary workstations in your technology tree:
Writing supplies: This technology node allows you to craft ink and paper at the church workbench.
Alchemy: You must navigate the swamp and speak to Clotho the witch to unlock the alchemy tech tree. This allows you to build the alchemy workbench (tier I), which is mandatory for mixing dyes.
The biggest hurdle in making ink is obtaining black paint. There are a few alchemical recipes, but two methods are great for players who have just started Graveyard Keeper or progressed a little ahead. These methods are mixing ash with oil and adding graphite powder with water.
Ash: Easily obtained by cremating corpses on pyres instead of burying them.
Oil: You can buy “seed oil” from Dig (the vendor east of the tavern) or press it yourself from hemp seeds.
Note: You cannot put a glass bottle of “seed oil” directly into the alchemy bench. You must open your inventory, select the seed oil, and click “Use” to extract 10 drops of usable oil. Combine the ash and oil at the tier I alchemy workbench to create your paint.
The other method involves mixing graphite powder with water and it is not recommended for early gameplay. Here’s how you can make ink using this method.
Graphite powder: Mine coal, smelt it into graphite in a furnace (level 2 or higher), and grind it down using an alchemy mill.
Water: Draw a bucket from the well near your house and “Use” it in your inventory to get water droplets. Combine the powder and water at the bench.
Once you have your black paint, you need two final components to thin it out and store it:
Water (1x): Sourced from your home well.
Conical flasks (1x): Crafted at a furnace using glass (smelted from river sand and water) or purchased directly from the Astrologer.
Once you have all the necessary raw material, you can craft ink using the workbench (Image via Lazy Bear Games || YouTube@jamasinplays)
Head down to the church basement and interact with the church workbench. Combine your 1x black paint, 1x water, and 1x conical flask. This recipe is highly efficient, yielding 5x ink per craft. To turn your newly crafted ink into a usable writing tool, combine it with feathers (purchased from the village egg vendor) to make pen and ink.
If you have not set up your alchemy lab yet and just need to finish an early quest, like making flyers for the Inquisitor, do not panic. The Astrologer sells ink and feathers once a week. Buying a single bottle of ink to craft three sets of pen and ink is a great way to avoid the early grind until your graveyard economy is fully operational.
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Bred more for speed than endurance, Single Choice still holds strong prospects to hand trainer Matt Cumani a breakthrough Group One in the South Australian Derby.
A product of Anders, celebrated for explosive sprint ability, Single Choice asserted superiority to win the Listed Galilee Series Final (2400m) at Caulfield over the weekend.
Originally the standout favourite, he drifted to $5 third choice at the jump with Jamie Mott steering, settling the runner outside the frontrunners.
The race unfolded with a lethargic start before quickening, enabling Single Choice to burst clear for a 1-1/4 length margin over Arabian Prince ($3.70) as $2.90 favourite Amazake endured severe checking midrace around the turn.
“I was very nervous about whether he’d get the trip, but he got a beautiful ride by Motty,” Cumani said.
“No speed early, but they went pretty solid from the 800 (metres) out, even earlier than that and he had to sustain a pretty hard run.
“But he’s got to be of that turn of foot and that’s really valuable for a horse that can get a bit of a trip.
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“I think we’ve got to go to Adelaide off that. This race was a bit of a test to see if he might get a derby distance, and even though it might not have been a solid run 2400 throughout, I think it’s provided enough of a test to say that we can go there and give it a go.”
Rider Jamie Mott was impressed by Single Choice’s adaptation, particularly after the horse’s wide trip to victory in the Autumn Classic two runs previous.
“It was bit of a new scenario for him, and he adapted well, and I think if he takes his form today to the Derby, they’ll know he’s there for sure,” Mott said.
Visit premier betting sites to find the keenest racing odds on the upcoming South Australian Derby.
Badminton Asia Championships Final Live Score: Ayush Shetty vs Shi Yu Qi Badminton Asia Championships Final Live Score: India’s emerging badminton talent Ayush Shetty is on the cusp of a historic achievement as he gears up to face China’s Shi Yu Qi in the men’s singles final of the Badminton Asia Championships on Sunday.
The 20-year-old has been the breakout star of the tournament, putting together an impressive run against some of the world’s best. Now, just one victory separates him from a landmark title that would mark a defining moment in his young career and a significant milestone for Indian badminton.
Semifinal heroics: Shetty stuns world No. 1 Shetty delivered a performance of immense character in the semifinal, overcoming reigning world No. 1 Kunlavut Vitidsarn in a gripping three-game encounter. After a one-sided opening game, the Indian showed resilience and tactical maturity to fight back, turning the match around with aggressive shot-making and improved control in the rallies.
Shi Yu Qi cruises into final In contrast, Shi Yu Qi had a far more straightforward passage to the final. The Chinese star produced a dominant display in his semifinal, winning in straight games with authority. His control over rallies, sharp net play, and ability to dictate tempo ensured he rarely allowed his opponent any foothold in the match.
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On Saturday, the 20-year-old Ayush dethroned Kunvalut 10-21, 21-19, 21-17, while world No.2 Shi outclassed Chou Tien Chen of Chinese Taipei 21-9, 21-13 in the semifinals of Badminton Asia Championships.
When and where to watch live Date: Sunday, April 12, 2026 Time: 1:00 PM IST Live Streaming: Available on Badminton Asia’s official Facebook and YouTube channels TV Broadcast: No live telecast in India
China’s Shi Yu Qi leads the head-to-head record against India’s Ayush Shetty 2-0 . The two shuttlers are scheduled to meet for the third time today. While Shi Yu Qi has won both previous encounters, their last meeting at the Malaysia Open in January was a closely contested three-game battle, suggesting Shetty is closing the gap.
Head-to-head and challenge ahead Shi Yu Qi currently leads the head-to-head 2-0, but their most recent meeting at the Malaysia Open earlier this year was a closely fought three-game encounter. That match suggested that Shetty is steadily closing the gap against one of the world’s best.
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Shetty will also draw inspiration from fellow Indian Lakshya Sen, who defeated Shi Yu Qi at the All England Championships last month, a result that proved the Chinese star can be beaten.
Apr 11, 2026; San Jose, California, USA; Vancouver Canucks right wing Brock Boeser (6) and San Jose Sharks defenseman Shakir Mukhamadullin (85) battle for control of the puck during the first period at SAP Center at San Jose. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-Imagn Images
Macklin Celebrini tallied his 109th and 110th points of the season, but the San Jose Sharks couldn’t win their home finale of the season, falling 4-3 to the Vancouver Canucks in a shootout on Saturday night.
Jake DeBrusk and Linus Karlsson found the back of the net for the Canucks in the shootout, which went to six rounds.
DeBrusk, Teddy Blueger and Marco Rossi scored in regulation, and Kevin Lankinen made 28 saves for the Canucks (23-48-8, 54 points), who had lost four straight games and nine of their last 10. Vancouver has been eliminated from playoff contention.
Igor Chernyshov scored twice, Celebrini had two assists and Yaroslav Askarov made 38 saves for the Sharks (37-34-8, 82 points), who have lost three straight. Saturday’s loss keeps the Sharks five points behind the Los Angeles Kings, who are in the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference playoff standings.
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Chernyshov put San Jose ahead 1-0 at 16:19 of the first period. Celebrini won a faceoff in Vancouver’s zone and fell as he fed the puck to Chernyshov, who scored on a backhand shot in front of the net.
Rossi tied the game 1-1 at 5:56 of the second period. Askarov went to play the puck behind the net, then tried to adjust before Rossi’s shot caught him out of position. The netminder pulled the net down on the puck, but officials called the goal good for Vancouver.
Tyler Toffoli gave the Sharks the 2-1 lead at 9:02. Sam Dickinson broke up the ice and set Toffoli up with a drop pass. The veteran center scored on a wrist shot.
DeBrusk tied the score back up 2-2 on a power play at 17:37. Askarov stopped a shot by Filip Hronek, and DeBrusk successfully scored on the rebound. San Jose challenged the goal for goaltender interference, but the call stood. It was DeBrusk’s 20th goal of the season, and 17th on the man advantage.
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Chernyshov’s second goal of the night put the Sharks up 3-2 at 12:44 as Celebrini set him up for a wrist shot. Blueger tied the game 3-3 with 3:00 left in regulation with a wrist shot.
Apr 11, 2026; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego FC midfielder Onni Valakari (8) shoots against the Minnesota United FC during the first half at Snapdragon Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Abe Arredondo-Imagn Images
Kelvin Yeboah scored his fourth goal of the season just before halftime and visiting Minnesota United held on for a 2-1 victory over 10-man San Diego FC on Saturday night.
Kyle Duncan also scored in the first half and Owen Gene had assists on both goals for the Loons (3-2-2, 11 points), who completed a second straight away win.
They were aided by a third red card received by a San Diego player in as many games, when defender Christopher McVey received his second booking in the opening minutes of the second half.
It was also McVey’s second ejection in as many appearances.
Luca Bombino, 19, scored his second career MLS goal and first of the season on a thunderous early volley for San Diego (3-2-2, 11 points), which is winless in its last five matches across all competitions.
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Before that slide, the second-year club had won five out of its first six between MLS and CONCACAF Champions Cup play.
Duncan pulled Minnesota level in the 15th minute, eight minutes after going behind.
After a nice sequence of passes on the left attacking half, Gene picked out Tomas Chancalay on the left flank.
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Chancalay lofted a left-footed cross to the back post, where Duncan met it with a firm header past Duran Ferree.
Next, Yeboah punished some reluctant San Diego defending to give the Loons the lead in the 40th minute.
This time it was Gene sending in an early cross from the right to the back post, where Anthony Markanich met it with a downward header.
Defenders reacted slowly, and Yeboah reached the loose ball to stab it across the line from close range.
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It got worse for the hosts in the opening seconds of the second half when McVay fouled Minnesota’s Nicolas Romero.
For the second time, referee Victor Rivas produced a caution in McVey’s direction. His previous dismissal late in a 2-2 draw against Real Salt Lake on March 22 also resulted from multiple bookings.
The hosts still applied pressure for a leveler, coming closest when Anders Dreyer forced Drake Callendar into a leaping save late in second-half stoppage time.
In a captivating Group One spectacle, Idle Flyer has overshadowed a highly competitive field, handing trainer Matthew Smith his second Queen Of The Turf Stakes success.
The pace-setting Pride Of Jenni rolled freely as predicted, pulling the pack apart for a demanding 1600-metre affair.
Zac Lloyd kept Idle Flyer poised in fourth, and as Lady Shenandoah mounted her bid to catch the frontrunner for second, Lloyd timed his move perfectly to score by three-quarters of a length.
Treasurethe Moment filled third, three-quarters farther adrift, prompting Smith to reflect that a feature win over The Championships made his early alarms and long shifts rewarding.
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“It’s what you get up in the mornings for. It means everything,” Smith said.
“I just can’t believe she’s won. I knew she was going good, but I didn’t think she’d win that. We’ll take it.”
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