Soccer

NEWCASTLE, England (AP) — Eddie Howe acknowledged he was “not 100%” after returning to work as Newcastle manager for the last crucial rounds of the Premier League.

QUITO, Ecuador (AP) — The family of Ecuadorian soccer player Jackson Rodríguez was rescued after being kidnapped from their home in the coastal city of Guayaquil, police authorities reported on Friday.

LONDON (AP) — A soccer player in England's fourth tier was banned for 13 matches on Friday and ordered to attend an education program after using a sexual reference when abusing an opponent.

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Erling Haaland and Rodri, Manchester City’s two star players, are closing in on a return after long injury absences. Just not in time for the FA Cup semifinals this weekend.

Liverpool manager Arne Slot rejected the notion that his team’s imminent Premier League title triumph has come easy, saying Friday that it is harder than ever to win games in England’s top division.

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Another promotion is within touching distance for Wrexham. The Welsh soccer team has been propelled to worldwide fame by co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney .

World soccer's great runner-up is finally about to lift a trophy. Harry Kane is on the verge of winning the German league title with Bayern Munich and he could seal the deal on Saturday.

Sporting Kansas City (2-6-1, 14th in the Western Conference) vs. FC Cincinnati (6-2-1, first in the Eastern Conference) Cincinnati; Saturday, 2:30 p.m.

Seattle Sounders FC (3-3-3, ninth in the Western Conference) vs. Colorado Rapids (4-2-3, fourth in the Western Conference) Commerce City, Colorado; Saturday, 9:30 p.m.

Atlanta United FC (2-4-3, 11th in the Eastern Conference) vs. Orlando City SC (3-2-4, sixth in the Eastern Conference) Orlando, Florida; Saturday, 7:15 p.m.