Sports
Whitecaps, Timbers open with wild-card rematch
Nov 3, 2024; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Ryan Gauld (25) plays the ball in the first half against the LAFC in a 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs Round One match at BC Place. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-Imagn Images The Portland Timbers will open the Major League Soccer season the same way they finished 2024, by playing host to the Vancouver Whitecaps.
The Timbers can only hope the Sunday match goes better.
The Whitecaps cruised to a 5-0 victory in a Western Conference wild-card game on Oct. 23 behind Ryan Gauld’s hat trick.
“We are really looking forward to this game,” said Timbers midfielder Diego Chara, who is set to become the first player in league history to appear in 400 regular-season matches for one club. “Now is different, but at the same time, I think the team knows what happened in the past and this is a great opportunity.”
The playoff loss led Timbers star Evander, who finished third in MVP voting with 15 goals and 19 assists, to rip team ownership and management in postgame tweets. That precipitated his departure in a transfer to FC Cincinnati last week for $12 million.
The Timbers used about half of that money to finalize a transfer for midfielder David Pereira da Costa from RC Lens (France) as the team’s new designated player.
“I’m building a team here and a culture to win,” said Timbers coach Phil Neville, whose club went 12-11-11 last season. “When you build something and you want to win, you need everybody on the bus heading in the same direction.”
Despite pushing Los Angeles FC to the limit in a best-of-three first-round playoff series, the Whitecaps (13-13-8 in 2024) fired coach Vanni Sartini and replaced him with Jesper Sorensen.
Gauld and forward Brian White, who scored a team-leading 15 goals in 2024, return to lead the Vancouver attack.
The Whitecaps could have another big move ahead, as the team is for sale.
“Obviously, that’s a big thing going on at the club, but it doesn’t really affect us in our day-to-day,” Gauld said. “We’ve still got a big season ahead of us, and, speaking to all the guys … it’s not really come up in conversation between any of us. We’re all here just to be focused on the football and make sure that we do our job.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Orlando City SC sign homegrown D Bernardo Rhein
Nov 24, 2024; Orlando, Florida, USA; The Orlando City logo is seen prior to a match against Atlanta United in a 2024 MLS Cup conference semifinal match at Inter&Co Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images Orlando City SC signed homegrown defender Bernardo Rhein to a first-team contract through the 2027-28 season.
The deal includes team options for the 2028-29 and 2029-30 campaigns.
“Bernardo has earned this opportunity through his dedication, consistency and the progress he’s shown at every stage of our development pathway,” said Orlando City general manager Ricardo Moreira.
“Having started in futsal, Bernardo brings flair and intensity to our backline. From the Academy to OCB and now the First Team, he has embraced every challenge and continued to grow as a player and as a person. This signing reflects our commitment to developing talent from within, and we’re excited to support Bernardo as he takes the next step in his career with the Club.”
The 18-year-old made his MLS debut on April 22, 2026, against Charlotte FC. He becomes the 19th Orlando City Academy product to advance through the full development pathway.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Jerry Kelly ties Cameron Percy atop Senior Open leaderboard
Jerry Kelly drives on hole No. 4 during the Kaulig Companies PGA Championship Final Round, July 12, 2026, at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio. With a 2-under par third round, Jerry Kelly tied Cameron Percy atop the leaderboard of the ISPS Handa Senior Open in Perth, Scotland on Saturday.
For Kelly, it was his second straight round of 2-under par 68 en route to being at 8-under 202 through three rounds. Meanwhile, Percy had his roughest afternoon of the week with a 1-over 71. The Australian started the event red hot with a 7-under 63.
Peter Baker (67, 5-under 205) and South Africa’s Darren Fichardt (68, 4-under) resided in third and fourth place, respectively. Pat Perez (67), South African Ernie Els (71) and Austria’s Markus Brier are all tied for fifth at three-under par.
Despite his position, Kelly, 59, remains focused on the round ahead of him.
“Yeah, we scoreboard watch, but it’s still Saturday,” he said. “So, there’s no real emotions going on for that scoreboard. Just want to position yourself for tomorrow and you want to get the job done tomorrow and that’s the key.”
Nevertheless, he recognized how meaningful it would be to win a Senior Open Championship.
“Yeah, that would be one of the most special things at this stage of my career. Like any player, I might treasure that above all else.”
Tim Petrovic was the round leader, shooting a 4-under that vaulted him 46 spots up the leaderboard into a tie for 16th place.
Clark Dennis had a strong showing, as well. His 67 shot him up 21 spots to a tie for eighth place.
Charles Schwab Cup leader Stewart Cink (70) is tied for 31st at 3-over 213.
–Field Level Media
Sports
With 318th homer, Royals' Salvador Perez sets club mark
Jul 25, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez (13) receives receives congratulations from teammates after he hits a home run in the seventh inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images Salvador Perez, who hit the first home run of his career at Comerica Park in Detroit in 2011, set the Kansas City Royals’ all-time record with No. 318 on Saturday at the same venue.
In the Royals’ 3-2 win over the Tigers, Perez tied the game at 2 in the seventh inning with a 401-foot solo shot to left off right-handed reliever Kyle Finnegan.
Perez’s blast broke a tie with Hall of Famer George Brett, who hit 317 homers for Kansas City from 1973-93. Like Brett, Perez has played his entire career with the Royals since debuting in 2011.
The 36-year-old is batting .210 with 15 homers and 44 RBIs in 98 games this season. He is a nine-time All-Star and a five-time Gold Glove catcher.
In 1,805 games with Kansas City, Perez has hit .261 with 748 runs and 1,060 RBIs.
–Field Level Media
Orlando City SC sign homegrown D Bernardo Rhein
Jerry Kelly ties Cameron Percy atop Senior Open leaderboard
