MINNEAPOLIS -- Zion Williamson admitted Friday that he would have much rather come to Minneapolis, site of the 2019 Final Four, as a participant.

Instead, he was at U.S. Bank Stadium to accept national player of the year awards from both the United States Basketball Writers Association and The Associated Press. But the Duke Blue Devils' star, who faced each of the remaining squads (Auburn, Michigan State, Texas Tech and Virginia) during the 2018-19 regular season, was asked to size up each of the four teams.

Williamson opened his four-team scouting report with Virginia, against which he scored 42 combined points in a pair of wins: "What stood out about Virginia was how they can control the pace of the game. I don't think I've ever seen them frustrated. So they control the game very well."

Williamson went for 24 points and 14 rebounds against Michigan State in the Elite Eight last weekend. Of the Spartans, Williamson said, "Michigan State, they ran motion offense very -- like, great. When the first option wasn't there, they kept running through their plays and they eventually found open shots."

Of Texas Tech, which Williamson (17 points, 13 rebounds) and Duke defeated 69-58 on Dec. 20 at Madison Square Garden, Williamson said: "Texas Tech: their defense ... they took like, nine, 10 charges against us. Their defense is probably the best we played against."

Auburn was the team that the expected No. 1 pick in the 2019 NBA draft faced the longest time ago, scoring 13 points and pulling down nine rebounds in a 78-72 win on Nov. 20. Of the Tigers, Williamson said, "Auburn is a fast-paced team that can shoot the 3-ball very well. They're very aggressive."

Williamson was also asked by the assembled media on hand in Minneapolis to predict a winner but politely declined.

Duke was 4-1 against the Final Four teams, with the only loss coming in Sunday's 68-67 Elite Eight defeat to Michigan State.

"I wish I was here under different circumstances," Williamson said. "I mean, you win some, you lose some. Just gotta move on."

The Final Four is here, and Michigan State, Virginia, Texas Tech and Auburn will vie for a spot in the national title game. We asked ESPN.com's panel of basketball writers to talk about what they're expecting from Saturday's games.

Jump to score predictions for Saturday's Final Four games

Virginia, Michigan State, Texas Tech and Auburn -- while there was reason to recommend all these teams, essentially no one had them in this combination. Which member of this group do you feel most differently about than you did when the tournament started?

Myron Medcalf, senior college basketball writer: Auburn. I was impressed by its run to the NCAA tournament. That 20-point win over Tennessee in the SEC tournament title game, the Tigers' second win over the Vols in 10 days, solidified them as a real threat. But I questioned whether they could sustain the momentum, especially after they squeezed by New Mexico State in the opening round. Even when they beat Kansas in the second round, I figured that had more to do with the shaky, short-handed Jayhawks than anything Auburn had done.

But when the Tigers held off North Carolina in a lopsided win in the Sweet 16, despite losing Chuma Okeke with eight minutes to play, I knew this team was for real. And then the win over Kentucky without Okeke in the Elite Eight proved that point again. In the Final Four, the Tigers shouldn't beat Virginia, a team with talent and a defensive style that should minimize Jared Harper's impact. But they continue to prove doubters wrong. I won't be surprised if Auburn wins it all in a pair of impressive performances.

Jeff Borzello, college basketball Insider: Michigan State. I had Virginia and Texas Tech in the Final Four, and Auburn is just shooting lights-out and playing terrifically. But Michigan State just wins, man. I've doubted the Spartans for most of the latter portion of the season, mostly because I don't see how they can keep scoring so efficiently without Joshua Langford, without Kyle Ahrens and with a limited Nick Ward. But the answer to any question about Michigan State begins and ends with Cassius Winston (and Tom Izzo). Winston is arguably the best point guard in the country, and he has consistently come up with big plays and big shots throughout the tournament.

John Gasaway, college basketball writer: Auburn. I picked Virginia and Michigan State to get this far, and I knew I was living dangerously when I included Texas Tech as one of the 345 teams that won't win the title. (That's not looking so smart.) But the Tigers really showed me something with that win over Kentucky. After just burying Kansas and North Carolina with speed and made 3s, Bruce Pearl's guys won an absolute rock fight on an afternoon when they made just seven 3s in 45 minutes. Bryce Brown was his usual amazing self in that game (4-of-7 outside the arc), and he has had arguably the best tournament on offense of any player at the Final Four. It has been an outstanding run by Brown and Auburn, one that has changed my thinking.

Jordan Schultz, Insider/analyst: Auburn has been something of an enigma this season. The key for the Tigers is the 3-pointer, and the offense seems to click no matter how stingy the opponent is defensively. Auburn, which has defeated three blue-blood programs already, ranks third in the nation with 11.5 made 3-pointers per game and has upped its average to 12.8 on 40 percent shooting since the start of the SEC tournament. Pearl would probably prefer a few more possessions -- his team is averaging a modest 70.4 during the NCAA tournament -- but it's a testament to how efficient the Tigers have been, especially against both Carolina and Kentucky.

If Auburn can keep this game close, the pressure will shift back to Virginia; we all know that. But if the Tigers can open up any type of lead, they have proved they can hold on to it with a defense predicated on quickness, even without defensive ace Okeke.

Courtney Cronin, college basketball/NFL reporter: Texas Tech. The Red Raiders dismantled Michigan by holding the Wolverines to their fewest points in NCAA tournament history and then followed up on that performance by stifling Gonzaga's high-tempo offense and dominant frontcourt. We knew this defense would present a challenge for any team it encountered in March, and it is a major reason that Tech is embarking on its first Final Four. It's intriguing to think about how some of the smaller lineups that coach Chris Beard has employed might be able to limit the explosiveness of Michigan State's guards.

Auburn and Texas Tech are here for the first time. When we look back on this Final Four in 10 years, will their presence look like a strange anomaly or the start of something bigger?

Medcalf: Anomalies, and for different reasons. The SEC will keep growing, especially after adding Buzz Williams at Texas A&M and Nate Oats at Alabama, so a team like Auburn will continue to fight for the quality wins that will lead to a favorable seed in the NCAA tournament. Everything kind of worked out for Auburn this season, in terms of its path to the Final Four. That won't be the case in the coming years. As for Texas Tech, this will be an anomaly because Beard will be gone. And it's hard to bet on a team that has advanced to the second round just five times since 1976. Ten years from now, I think we'll look back, win or lose, and say, for both teams, "That was their chance."

Borzello: Little bit of both? I don't know if either team will make a Final Four again in the next decade, but I think much of it depends on whether both teams can keep their respective coaches for an extended period of time. Beard has been the best coach in the country this season, and he has now led the Red Raiders to an Elite Eight and Final Four in back-to-back seasons. But Beard is going to be connected to a number of jobs on the coaching carousel until he either signs a huge-money extension or leaves for an elite, elite job. As for Pearl and Auburn, I think he's less likely to leave -- but I also think Auburn caught a little bit of lightning in a bottle this season, and it could be hard to replicate.

Gasaway: I'll second a portion of what Borzello said: Beard staying in Lubbock could well mean this is just the beginning of great things for Texas Tech as a program. Conversely, if he leaves, then you may be looking at more of a Calipari-at-Memphis kind of moment where the coach stays successful but his former program is less so.

As for Auburn, don't tell Charles Barkley, but getting to the Final Four can be something of an anomaly even for really strong programs (which is what Pearl is building). Just look at Virginia. The Cavaliers were at the top of the ACC for years with zero Final Fours to show for it until now. If Pearl stays with the Tigers, we will look back on this in 10 years in about the same way that we now look at West Virginia getting to the 2010 Final Four, as the best year for a good program and a good coach.

Schultz: Since 1985, 14 teams have made first-time appearances in the Final Four. And of those 14, eight were power conference schools (South Carolina in 2017, Maryland in 2001, UConn in 1999, Minnesota in 1997, Mississippi State in 1996, Florida in 1994, Georgia Tech in 1990 and Arizona in 1988). Maryland, UConn and Arizona are the only schools to have sustained national success, all of them having won championships.

While predicting future tournament success is an exercise in futility, I think Texas Tech probably has the best model to push forward. Beard has created a formula centered on elite defense with both players and personnel. This is not to discredit Pearl: He helped rebuild Tennessee, and he has quickly built Auburn into a national power. But Beard seems to have the upper hand because of his defense. As he lands better recruits in Lubbock, we can expect the Red Raiders to challenge Kansas in the Big 12 -- and enjoy deep runs in March.

Cronin: Probably the latter. Beard got Texas Tech close a year ago. Despite Auburn's roller-coaster regular season, it felt like the Tigers had been poised for a deep tournament run under Pearl for a while. Sure, both Texas Tech and Auburn ran into teams that stumbled (Gonzaga, Kansas) more than usual in the tournament, and their biggest test will be performing the way they have throughout March on a consistent basis. Neither team feels like a complete outlier despite never having reached this stage of the game. And of course that has to do, in large part, with coaching. While Beard and Pearl may draw bigger job offers beyond this season given the success they've achieved with their respective programs, no matter what happens to these teams beyond 2019, we won't be looking back on either group as an anomaly 10 years from now.

Which team are you most shocked NOT to see in Minneapolis, and can you make a case for it reaching the 2020 Final Four in Atlanta?

Medcalf: Kentucky. In the Elite Eight, the Wildcats were facing the same Auburn team that they'd defeated 80-53 just last month. Yes, this Auburn squad just rattled off a series of impressive wins to reach this point, but when you beat a squad by that margin (and in the first matchup, too), you assume one team has a significant edge over the other, especially after Okeke's injury and the Wildcats' double-digit lead in the first half. It was right there. But Kentucky can make another run next season with Ashton Hagans most likely returning and five-star recruits Tyrese Maxey and Kahlil Whitney entering the mix. Plus, Nick Richards, EJ Montgomery, Jemarl Baker and Immanuel Quickley could all blossom in new roles next season. With Calipari and a top-rated recruiting class on the way, the Final Four will be an attainable goal.

Borzello: It has to be Duke, right? The Blue Devils were the overall 1-seed in the NCAA tournament and the biggest story in college basketball this season, and they will have three of the top five or six picks in June's NBA draft. So yes, I'm shocked not to see Duke in Minneapolis. And I think it could be hard for Mike Krzyzewski to reload quickly enough to get the Blue Devils back to the Final Four next season. He doesn't have a Zion Williamson or RJ Barrett coming in, and he's going to lose both of them, plus at least Cam Reddish.

The recruiting class coming in is great, but there might not be an immediate All-American in the group. Vernon Carey should be a dominant back-to-the-basket player, while Wendell Moore brings toughness and scoring and Boogie Ellis can score. I think the key will be the maturation of Tre Jones as an offensive threat, assuming he stays in school, and whether Duke can land five-star recruit Matthew Hurt.

Gasaway: Gonzaga. The Bulldogs had it all this season, up to and including quite possibly the best frontcourt in the nation. Not to mention the Zags were blessed with ample helpings of the experience that everyone has fallen in love with after Kentucky and Duke lost Sunday. Depth, balance on both offense and defense, you name it: Mark Few's guys had it. But they ran into one of the best teams in the country in Texas Tech, and, six Brandon Clarke turnovers later, here we are. Give credit to the Red Raiders; they were the superior team.

Schultz: Gonzaga, my preseason pick to win its first national title. Much of the Zags' 2020 success will depend on the status of Clarke, Killian Tillie and Zach Norvell Jr., all of whom could become first-round picks in June. The losses of Rui Hachimura and Josh Perkins -- the school's all-time leader in assists -- will hurt, but Few is a model of consistency. During the previous seven seasons, the Bulldogs have won 32 games or more five times, earning a No. 1 seed three times.

Perhaps most impressive has been Few's ability to lure elite prospects from all over the globe: Tillie, Kelly Olynyk, Domantas Sabonis and Ronny Turiaf, to name a few. Hachimura will soon become the first Japanese-born player drafted into the NBA. This year's recruiting class ranks 19th nationally, per ESPN, and features three top-100 recruits. Don't sleep on 2018 center Filip Petrusev of Serbia, a multidimensional threat with tangible NBA upside. Make no mistake: The Zags will once again contend for their first national championship in 2020.

Cronin: I struggle with where to place Duke in this argument. In spite of as loaded a roster as the Blue Devils had and near-lock-type expectations for making it to Minneapolis, it's difficult to expect that a freshman-laden team would win a championship no matter how good its players were. We were treated to a once-in-a-generation talent this year in Williamson. No matter how good at recruiting Coach K and the program itself are, players like that don't come along every recruiting cycle. Even if Duke is able to pull in another historic recruiting class, it's now difficult to envision a class of one-and-done talent being able to carry a team in March. The way Duke played in several nail-biters and its eventual loss to Michigan State was sort of a microcosm for what it went through most of the season.

Which one individual matchup are you most looking forward to on Saturday night?

Medcalf: Jarrett Culver versus Michigan State, a team full of 6-foot-6ish athletes to throw at the projected top-10 pick. Culver finished 5-for-19 against Gonzaga in the Elite Eight. He has 30 turnovers in six games this season. Can Matt McQuaid, an All-Big Ten Defensive Team member, and young Aaron Henry disrupt Culver? Culver is the best player in Minneapolis, and he has led a revitalized offense in the NCAA tournament. Michigan State has to force him into difficult shots in the national semifinals.

Borzello: Ty Jerome and Kyle Guy vs. Jared Harper and Bryce Brown. In general, I think the key will be how the perimeters of Auburn and Virginia match up. Kihei Clark took a lot of the responsibility of guarding Carsen Edwards last weekend, and it wouldn't be a surprise to see him guarding Harper. That said, Harper's defensive aggressiveness will be an asset against Jerome at the other end. Auburn's guards will also have to be disciplined on the defensive end, chasing Guy and Jerome around screens and pin-downs for 30 seconds every possession. Harper and Brown do have a foot speed advantage on Guy and Jerome, though, and will look to put pressure on them at every opportunity.

Gasaway: Cassius Winston versus ... does the Texas Tech defense count as one individual unit? The Red Raiders have been known to switch on occasion, so let's just say that, regardless of which player picks up Winston initially on the first possession, I can't wait to see the whole 40 minutes. Texas Tech was outstanding on D against the Gonzaga backcourt, and, while I think the world of Perkins and Norvell, facing Winston is a step up in degree of difficulty. He will simply take what you give him, and, unlike most prominent scoring guards, he has zero prior commitment to just one plan of action. Winston will drive and dish, drive and score, shoot the 3, whatever's available. Meanwhile, the Raiders excel at making nothing available. It will be strength on strength.

Schultz: I can't help but fixate on Winston, the Big Ten Player of the Year. How will Beard and Texas Tech's No. 1-ranked defense counter the Wooden Award finalist, who Tom Izzo made clear on my podcast -- Pull Up with CJ McCollum -- was his team's most important player? Matt Mooney is a tough on-ball defender, but I think Culver has to assume some of the responsibilities as well. He is arguably the most complete perimeter defender in the country, deft at deploying his length and quickness on smaller players.

I spoke with a former NBA head coach recently about Winston, and while he was complimentary, he worried about Winston's quickness getting to his spots. As both collegiate coaches and players have told me, Tech does not break down defensively: The Raiders are too solid and too well-coached. Look for them to trap Winston in the half court to try to force sudden and potentially errant decisions, while turning the ancillary players into focal points. Then again, Winston averages a stellar 7.6 APG to go along with 2.9 turnovers, a low number considering his high usage and playmaking responsibilities. In other words, something has to give.

Cronin: I'm excited to see the Tariq Owens-Xavier Tillman showdown. Owens' tremendous shot-blocking and ability to guard multiple positions helped Texas Tech limit Michigan's half-court sets in the Sweet 16 and should be a big factor against the shooting ability of MSU's guards. Tillman has been a major part of the Spartans' rotation of bigs, and if he can replicate what he did against Williamson, Michigan State could be poised to advance to the national championship. These players are the spark plug for their respective teams, and I'm excited to see who holds his own the best in this matchup.

Score predictions for Auburn/Virginia, 6:09 p.m. ET, CBS (Virginia -5.5)

Medcalf: Virginia, 69, Auburn 64

Borzello: Virginia 72, Auburn 63

Gasaway: Virginia 75, Auburn 68

Schultz: Virginia 69, Auburn 59

Cronin: Auburn 76, Virginia 69

Score predictions for Michigan State/Texas Tech, CBS (Michigan State -2.5)

Medcalf: Texas Tech, 70, Michigan State 67

Borzello: Texas Tech 64, Michigan State 60

Gasaway: Michigan State 61, Texas Tech 60

Schultz: Michigan State 65, Texas Tech 60

Cronin: Michigan State 68, Texas Tech 65

Leeds City take men’s 12-stage and women’s 6-stage glory at the ERRA Road Relays at Sutton Park

Leeds City AC completed an impressive double at the English Road Running Association (ERRA) Spring Road Relays at Sutton Park near Birmingham.

Racing in fine weather on Saturday (April 6), firstly Leeds City took the women’s 6-stage crown – successfully defending the title they won 12 months earlier as Jenny Walsh (pictured below) anchored them home.

On a day when the sporting spotlight in the UK was on the Grand National horse race at Aintree, the domestic athletics focus fell on Sutton Park and Leeds City demonstrated their staying power in abundance as their men’s squad matched the achievement of their female clubmates by taking victory in the 12-stage as Joe Townsend brought them home in 4hr 12min 19sec.

In the battles for the minor medals, Bristol & West took silver and Aldershot, Farnham & District bronze in the men’s race, while the women’s event saw Herne Hill Harriers finish second and Birchfield Harriers third.

When it came to fastest stages, Kent AC’s Alex Yee ran 25:00 with Dewi Griffiths of Swansea the second fastest with 25:06, while Emile Cairess of Leeds clocked the fastest short leg with 14:43 on stage 10.

One week after placing top non-African in the World Cross Country Championships women’s race, Danish runner Anna Emilie Møller clocked 28:01 for Aldershot ahead of Blackburn’s Jess Judd’s 28:07 on the opening stage in the women’s race, while Katie Snowden of Herne Hill ran fastest short leg of 17:02.

Anna Emilie Moller running the fastest long stage at Sutton Park. #ERRArelays pic.twitter.com/wPRdTQjZij

— Athletics Weekly (@AthleticsWeekly) April 6, 2019

The lone remaining Major League Soccer team in the CONCACAF Champions League would need a major comeback to reach the finals.

Monterrey routed Sporting Kansas City 5-0 on Thursday in Guadalupe, Mexico, in the first leg of a total-goals semifinal series. The return leg will be played April 11 in Kansas City, Kansas.

Dorlan Pabon and Aviles Hurtado scored in the seventh and 14th minutes, respectively, to give Monterrey a fast start. The game was secured when Jesus Gallardo scored in the 55th minute, Nicolas Sanchez converted a penalty kick in the 70th minute, and Pabon found the net again in the 76th minute.

The result ties the biggest margin for victory in a match in the CCL era along with Santos' 6-1 win against the Seattle Sounders in 2012 and a 2009 Cruz Azul 5-0 win over the Columbus Crew

In the first semifinal matchup Wednesday, host Tigres routed Santos Laguna 3-0 in an all-Liga MX matchup at San Nicolas de los Garza, Mexico. The second leg of that series will be played next Wednesday at Torreon, Mexico.

The two-legged final will be held in late April and early May.

No MLS team has won the competition since the LA Galaxy were champions in 2000. Mexican clubs have won every title since 2006.

Danny Rose has said racism will continue to be a problem in football as long as offending countries are fined what he would spend on a night out -- and he can't wait to see the back of the game.

The Tottenham left-back was among the England players targeted with chants by a section of home fans during the 5-1 Euro 2020 qualifying victory in Podgorica on March 25, and UEFA have since charged Montenegro with racist behaviour.

- Ogden: No beer, no problem as Spurs open new home with win

"I'd sort of prepared myself anyway for what happened," Rose said. "Had we not been winning, the yellow card I got at the end might have been a red one, but I'm fine.

"I played in Serbia about eight years ago and it happened there so I sort of thought there was a possibility it may happen again, and it did.

"It didn't affect my game. I'm a big boy now. I know three points isn't the most important thing when you're going through things like that, but I just wanted the team to get three points, to move on and get out of Montenegro as quickly as possible.

"Obviously it's sad [to have to prepare yourself for that] but when countries only get fined what I probably spend on a night out in London then what do you expect?

"You see my manager [Mauricio Pochettino] get banned for two games for just being confrontational against Mike Dean at Burnley. Yet a country can only get fined a little bit of money for being racist. It's just a bit of a farce at the minute.

"That's where we're at now in football and until there's a harsh punishment there's not much else we can expect I don't think.

"I have had enough. At the minute, how I've programmed myself now, I just think that I've got five or six more years left in football and I just can't wait to see the back of it, seeing how things are done in the game at the minute. There's so many politics and whatever in football."

Rose decided not to speak to the media immediately after the match in Podgorica but said: "I have to say it was a very small minority out of the fans that were doing the chants so I didn't want the postmatch to be about me.

"I wasn't upset. I just wanted everybody to focus on the good week that we had with England. We scored 10 goals and it was a great performance over two games.

"I spoke to Gareth [Southgate] after the game. I didn't mention it at half-time so he wasn't aware of what was happening until he heard it right at the end.

"The manager was a bit upset to be fair. He said it's the first time he's been involved in something like that, and he said he didn't know what the right course of action was.

"He said he was fully behind me if we wanted to walk off. I appreciate that but I just wanted to get the three points and get out of there as quickly as possible."

While Rose has become increasingly disillusioned with life as a professional footballer, he said he enjoyed being involved in the first senior match at Tottenham's new stadium on Wednesday, as Spurs beat Crystal Palace 2-0 at the 62,062-seater arena to reclaim third place from Arsenal.

"It was special," he said. "It was a bit surreal at the beginning when we were doing the warm-up and there was a moment when the crowd was singing Dele [Alli]'s name. We were just saying after the game how loud it was.

"It was an amazing night. We've waited a little bit for this night and we're thankful it's here and we're back to winning. It was a good night all-round.

"It was a bit flat towards the end, playing at Wembley, and you can't hold anything against the fans for that. They've been great and [last night] they made it really feel like home.

"We can't wait to play here next week [against Manchester City]."

City manager Pep Guardiola has urged Rose not to turn his back on football and fight back against racist abuse.

"Danny Rose has not to do that," he said about the Tottenham man's comments. "Next Tuesday I will tell him if I see him: the best way to fight is to come back from this terrible situation is fighting, being there every day and because he's an extraordinary football player."

Romelu Lukaku's agent has said the Manchester United forward will analyse his future at the end of the season, and would be keen to play in Italy.

The 25-year-old joined United from Everton for £75 million in 2017 and has scored 42 goals in 90 appearances across all competitions.

And Lukaku's agent Federico Pastorello said the Belgium international is keen to sample other leagues.

"At the moment, he's focused on finishing the season," Pastorello told Sky Sports. "The competition for third and fourth place in England is very tight so let's see what will happen in the future at the end the season.

"It's his second season here and he will still have three years on his contract until the end. Let's see. He's someone who loves to know a different culture, a different football.

"He sees a way to have a career playing in different countries because he would like to win some trophies and prove himself and say to his children: 'I won there and I won there and I won there,' and: 'I was a very good player in all the top championships' so let's see.

"The future is really very open but, at the moment, we don't discuss about that because really the season is in a big moment."

Sources have told ESPN FC that up to five players could leave United this summer, with Antonio Valencia and Matteo Darmian the prime candidates to depart.

Lukaku was former boss Jose Mourinho's first-choice centre forward, but has shared the responsibility with Marcus Rashford since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer replaced the former Chelsea manager in December. However, Pastorello said Lukaku's relationship with the Norwegian is positive.

"In this period what he appreciates a lot about the manager is he was keeping him involved with a lot of attention," Pastorello added. "That is normal with the level of the player but sometimes managers are not so used to doing it anyway.

"Once he had the opportunity he scored goals so he was important when not starting and when he got the opportunity to start, he scored [three games in a row.] He was amazing in the victory against Paris Saint-Germain so now we think he's back on his place."

And Pastorello said Lukaku could be keen to try his luck in Serie A.

"He likes Italy," Pastorello said. "When he was a child he followed a lot the Italian league.

"Everybody agrees today the Premier League is the best but years ago Italy was the best and they were the dreams for the younger footballer players.

"Teams like Real Madrid and Barcelona of course attract any champion so he sees also in La Liga one day. Bundesliga for sure is a very good championship."

Sporting Kansas City will look to rebound from their CONCACAF Champions League humiliation, while Zlatan Ibrahimovic's LA Galaxy take aim at Vancouver on Friday, before impressive debutant Alejandro Pozuelo and Toronto FC face Chicago on Saturday.

SKC feeling the highs and lows

For a few days this week Sporting Kansas City took on the nickname "Scoring Kansas City." Only Los Angeles FC have scored more goals than Sporting KC this season in MLS, 14 to 11, with LAFC having played a game more.

Peter Vermes' team was flying high after a 7-1 win over the Montreal Impact and actually had MLS fans optimistic they could get a result in Monterrey in their CONCACAF Champions League semifinal first leg.

But the 5-0 bludgeoning they took from the Rayados on Thursday night will leave many wondering how SKC's mental state will be heading to FC Cincinnati on Sunday (3 p.m. ET, ESPN). As good as they were against Montreal, they were equally bad against the Liga MX side, who dragged SKC around the field for 90 minutes in what was the latest chapter in MLS' embarrassing CCL history.

As for Cincinnati, all things considered, the new kids on the block have enjoyed a very good start, and since Vermes fielded his starters in Monterrey, Cincy is likely to face the reserves on Sunday.

But news of Fanendo Adi's suspension is an unwelcome distraction and Sporting KC would like nothing more than to take out their frustrations on the MLS newbies.

TGI ... Z?

The MLS weekend begins with a rare Friday night appearance for Zlatan Ibrahimovic and the LA Galaxy, effectively transforming all of those annoying "TGIF!" greetings you'll hear in the office into "TGIZ" -- Thank God It's Zlatan.

In his first game back from injury last week, the Swedish striker scored twice against the Portland Timbers, both via the penalty spot with the second in "Panenka" style. While it was not the hat trick that members of the Ibrahimovic family were hoping for, it was a firm reminder that no one can change a game in MLS like the former Manchester United striker.

Next up is a trip across the border to face the Vancouver Whitecaps (10 p.m. ET, ESPN +) at BC Place, where Ibrahimovic is expected to play, despite it being a turf field. The Canadian outfit feel like they have the solution to neutralise the 37-year-old, with Caps defender Doneil Henry saying: "If we defend as a unit, we won't be penetrated."

It's an interesting take, considering Henry was on the field last September when Ibrahimovic banged in two goals, including this screamer, when the Vancouver defense red-carpeted a path to goal. But that was last season's dysfunctional Whitecaps side; the defense is slightly better (seven goals conceded in four games), so maybe Henry is onto something.

Or maybe not. Issuing a challenge to Ibrahimovic, even if Henry probably didn't mean to make it sound like a challenge, is just the fuel the big guy needs to bag another brace.

Seba who?

Outside of THAT performance from Ibrahimovic last spring against LAFC, you would be hard-pressed to find a better MLS debut in the past year than the one served up Toronto FC's Alejandro Pozuelo on Friday in the 4-0 win against New York City FC.

The Spanish midfielder was exceptional, setting up Jozy Altidore with an impeccable pass for TFC's opener before scoring a "Panenka" penalty of his own, followed by a Messi-esque chip for his second of the night.

It took some doing to pry Pozuelo away from Belgian side Genk, but now that he is in the fold and already connecting with Altidore, the wailing and gnashing of teeth over Sebastian Giovinco's winter departure has faded from memory. Pozuelo looks like the real deal and his next chance to impress comes on Saturday at home against the Chicago Fire (3 p.m. ET, ESPN+).

Chicago had its own debutant last week in the form of Nico Gaitan, although it was a much more understated second-half substitute appearance. Nevertheless, you don't play for Boca Juniors, Benfica and Atletico Madrid if you don't have quality, and assuming Fire boss Veljko Paunovic plays to Gaitan's strengths and puts him at No. 10, Chicago has the right playmaker to counter TFC's newfound attack.

WATERBURY, Vt. – One of the rising stars of Northeast late model racing is joining the American-Canadian Tour full-time this season.

Massachusetts native Ryan Kuhn has filed a full-season ACT Late Model Tour entry will run the full 10-race schedule throughout New England and Canada.

Kuhn was last year’s Seekonk Speedway late model champion, earning the title at age 17. He also made ACT starts at three different tracks and finished in the top-12 in all of them.

Most recently, Kuhn took 10th place in the Commonwealth Classic 65 at Virginia’s Richmond Raceway to open the season.

Now 18, Kuhn is making the jump to the ACT Late Model Tour in his No. 72MA Everett’s Auto Parts Chevrolet.

He’ll be going up against some stout competition in his first full year, including multi-time champions Scott Payea and Wayne Helliwell Jr., established frontrunners Jimmy Hebert and Rich Dubeau, and fellow upstarts like sophomores Dylan Payea and Christopher Pelkey.

According to Kuhn, this competition is what excites him most about joining ACT.

“The American-Canadian Tour is really the best of the best drivers,” Kuhn said. “I think it’s the best competition in Late Model racing on the East Coast, to be honest with you. We wanted to get away from local short track stuff and get into touring series racing, and I’m happy to be running in a full-time touring series in 2019.

“I think it’s a big stepping stone to my dream goal.”

Like the rest of the ACT Late Model Tour, Kuhn will open his point-counting campaign on Sunday, April 14 at Maine’s Oxford Plains Speedway. The track is one of the handful on the schedule where he has prior experience.

Kuhn is optimistic that this experience will help him get off to a strong start in his rookie ACT season.

“I’m excited to get back to Oxford Plains,” he said. “We missed the setup last year, and I think we’re going to change a whole lot in the car for the next show. I’m also looking forward to Thompson. We were stout there last year and honestly had a car to win. Hopefully we can go back to that same equipment and have a shot to win.”

Kuhn will also be visiting multiple ACT tracks for the first time, including Autodrome Chaudiere and Star Speedway.

Despite his success in weekly late model racing and limited Tour racing, he is trying to keep his goals realistic for 2019, while also hoping to exceed them.

“Our main goal is to get rookie of the year,” Kuhn said. “A lot of people out there have the goal to win the championship, and that’s ultimately my goal too, but we’re just out there to do the best we can.

“A top-five in points would be a win for us. If we could do that, it would be awesome.”

Regardless, Kuhn is looking forward to getting behind the wheel with ACT.

He said in a press conference at Richmond Raceway that the ACT late model is his favorite type of car to race, and he doubled down on that sentiment this week.

“They’re just fun to drive,” he remarked. “They’re fun to drive and hard to drive. It really comes down to setup and driver. These style Late Models bring a lot of driver into play, and it’s so much fun just hanging it out there sideways, especially at Richmond.

“Richmond is probably one of the slickest tracks other than Oxford to race on, and it was a lot of fun racing there.”

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