James Rodriguez Makes Loons Debut Minnesota United’s James Rodriguez made his MLS debut on Sunday, but the match against the Vancouver Whitecaps ended in a 6-0 victory for the visitors, overshadowing the Colombian star’s return. Despite the lopsided result, Rodriguez’s 27-minute appearance marked a positive step after missing the first three games of the season due to a minor injury and visa-related delays. Rodriguez, who joined Minnesota in January, admitted the circumstances of his debut were challenging. “It was tough coming on like that; we were already losing by a lot of goals,” he said in an interview with the Pioneer Press. “But I came on to do my job, which is to try and play well in just a few minutes. I think I played well. I personally feel good.” The 34-year-old midfielder, who was credited with creating one scoring chance against the Whitecaps, had previously missed the 3-1 loss to Nashville on March 7 due to a foot injury. He also mentioned the difficulty of adjusting to playing on artificial turf in MLS, both during training and in matches at BC Place. “MLS is a physical league where you run more than you play,” he said. “But I’m always ready to learn new things in my long career. I’m adapting to this new style of soccer, and I always want to help the team win and play well.” Rodriguez’s debut also included a memorable moment when he exchanged jerseys with German star Thomas Muller, a former teammate at Bayern Munich from 2017 to 2019. “It was good to see him, to see that he is doing very well,” Rodriguez said. “When it comes to people you’ve played with, especially those you got along well with, you always hope they continue to enjoy the same success and stay on a good path.#allianz_field #james_rodriguez #minnesota_united #vancouver_whitecaps #thomas_muller
Minnesota United Defeats FC Cincinnati 1-0 in MLS Match Minnesota United FC secured a 1-0 victory over FC Cincinnati in a tightly contested Major League Soccer match on February 28, 2026. The result marked a crucial win for the Minnesota team as they extended their lead in the league standings. The game, played at Allianz Field in Saint Paul, saw Minnesota’s defense hold firm against a determined Cincinnati attack, with the decisive goal coming in the first half. The breakthrough moment arrived in the 35th minute when Minnesota’s forward capitalized on a defensive error by Cincinnati. The goal, which proved to be the game’s only scoring opportunity, was the result of a well-executed counterattack. Minnesota’s goalkeeper made several key saves in the second half to preserve the lead, while Cincinnati’s midfield struggled to generate consistent pressure. FC Cincinnati’s best chance came in the 68th minute when Kenji Mboma Dem, playing for the visitors, fired a shot from the right side of the penalty area. The ball struck the post and bounced away, narrowly missing the target. The miss was attributed to a lack of composure under pressure, as Cincinnati’s attackers failed to capitalize on their limited opportunities. The match ended with Minnesota United celebrating their first win of the season, while Cincinnati’s record remained unchanged. The result highlighted the competitive nature of the MLS regular season, with both teams showing resilience in their respective efforts to secure points.#fc_cincinnati #minnesota_united_fc #allianz_field #kenji_mboma_dem #mls_regular_season
