Kane scores 2 more as Bayern beats Dortmund in Klassiker to open 11-point gap in Bundesliga

BERLIN (AP) — Harry Kane scored twice again and Bayern Munich opened an 11-point lead in the Bundesliga with a 3-2 win at Borussia Dortmund in Der Klassiker on Saturday.

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Joshua Kimmich let fly with his left boot to score the winner with a volley in the 87th minute, just four minutes after Daniel Svensson equalized for Dortmund with a brilliant volley inside the left post.

Nico Schlotterbeck put Dortmund 1-0 up at the break, but Serge Gnabry set up Kane's response and the England star got his second from the penalty spot — after a foul by Schlotterbeck on Josip Stanišić — to take his league tally to 30 goals this season.

Kane has scored two goals or more for the fourth successive game and is threatening Robert Lewandowski's season record of 41.

Dortmund disappointed

It's the second painful defeat for Dortmund in as many games after its Champions League exit to Atalanta on Wednesday despite going into their playoff second leg with a 2-0 advantage.

Dortmund top scorer Serhou Guirassy and defender Ramy Bensebaini started as substitutes with coach Niko Kovač explaining that Ramadan fasting was impacting the Muslim players' fitness.

"It takes a lot of energy if you can't eat and drink all day," Kovač said. "That's why I couldn't bring the guys on today. We have the data. You can see that if the players can't eat and drink it has an impact on performance."

Schlotterbeck headed the opener from a free kick against the run of play in the 26th.

The Dortmund defender was somewhat fortunate to be on the field after escaping with a yellow card for a bad challenge on Stanišić just minutes before.

Dortmund captain Emre Can had to go off before the break with a suspected left knee injury.

Dayot Upamecano almost equalized after the break when he crashed against the post after just missing Gnabry's cross, and Kane finally got Bayern's reply in the 54th with an easy finish to Gnabry's cross.

Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel got his left hand to the ball but couldn't stop the penalty flying in under the crossbar for Kane's 30th goal of the season.

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Kovač made three changes in the 75th, including sending on 17-year-old Italian forward Samuele Inacio for his Bundesliga debut.

Svensson celebrated with a somersault after drawing Dortmund level, but Bayern wasn't finished.

Ten rounds remain and only an improbable collapse will stop Bayern from making it 13 Bundesliga titles in the 14 years since Dortmund won it back-to-back in 2012.

Bremen ends winless streak

Werder Bremen finally ended its 13-game run without a win by beating relegation rival Heidenheim 2-0 in their bottom-of-the-table scrap.

Bremen missed a host of chances before Jovan Milošević scored from Romano Schmid's cross in the 57th minute, and an own goal from Hennes Behrens in stoppage time confirmed Bremen's first win after three defeats under new coach Daniel Thioune.

It was enough to lift Bremen above Wolfsburg into the relegation playoff place. Wolfsburg, which hasn't won its last six games, visits Stuttgart on Sunday.

Heidenheim remained last, nine points from safety after St. Pauli held on for a 1-0 win at high-flying Hoffenheim.

Mathias Pereira Lage scored for St. Pauli before the break, lifting the Hamburg-based club out of the relegation zone after its third win from four games.

Kevin Diks scored a stoppage-time penalty for Borussia Mönchengladbach to beat Union Berlin 1-0 and end the Foals' seven-game winless run.

Jarell Quansah scored late for Bayer Leverkusen to salvage a 1-1 draw with Mainz, canceling Sheraldo Becker's second-half volley for Mainz.

But the draw is a blow to Leverkusen's hopes of reaching fourth place in the race for Champions League qualification. Leverkusen remained sixth, and both Stuttgart and Leipzig could pull further away. Leipzig visits Hamburger SV on Sunday.

AP soccer:https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

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3/01/2026 10:04:00 AM

Kane scores 2 more as Bayern beats Dortmund in Klassiker to open 11-point gap in Bundesliga

BERLIN (AP) — Harry Kane scored twice again and Bayern Munich opened an 11-point lead in the Bundesliga with a 3-2 win at...

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Jackson Jobe injury: Tigers prospect plots 'important innings' after Tommy John surgery

LAKELAND, FL –Detroit Tigersright-handed pitcher Jackson Jobe offered an encouraging update on his rehab from Tommy John surgery.

Jobe is going through a long-toss rehab program, progressively throwing longer distances – he is up to 105 feet, three times a week. And he said could start throwing bullpens off a mound in about six weeks.

"I think it's like, starting in mid-April, is when I'll be on the mound," Jobe told reporters on Saturday, Feb. 28.

ON THE MOUND:Jackson Jobe injury update: Detroit Tigers expect MLB return in 2026

After he completes the long-toss program, he will start throwing bullpens.

"Then it'll be a few lives and rehab outings," Jobe said. "I think it'll just depend on how sharp I'm feeling, how quickly I can get my feel back. But as it stands right now, I feel pretty normal, which is kind of weird, but guess I'll take it."

MLB spring training 2026: Sunshine, good vibes in Arizona and Florida

When a reporter asked if Jobe could be pitching for the Tigers sooner than September, Jobe said: "What we have drawn up is quicker than that, for sure."

But he offered no date.

"I obviously want to be smart about it," he said. "I guess I probably shouldn't say when we have in mind, just in case it doesn't happen. But I'm feeling pretty optimistic that I will be throwing some important innings this year."

Jobelast pitched for the Tigers on May 28; heunderwent surgery June 16to repair the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow.

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The Tigers have been vague about when he might return, which is not surprising considering every rehab is different.

"We expect him to be back in 2026," president of baseball operationsScott Harrissaid Monday, Dec. 8, at the Winter Meetings in Orlando, Florida. "It's hard to forecast the actual date, but we expect it to be a boost for our roster in the second half."

"Knock on wood – everything's been going as well as it could," Jobe said Saturday. "I'm just trying to keep it that way and not change a thing. The program that we have has been great."

Jobe – the No. 3 overall pick in the 2021 MLB Draft – has a locker in the Tigers clubhouse in TigerTown. He has been encouraged by other pitchers who have been through Tommy John – and had success after the surgery. He also has been getting tips and advice from Justin Verlander, who is teaching him how to work hard, but also how to rest and recover.

Still, Jobe is bothered about missing the start of the season.

"It sucks that I'm not going to be there for the beginning," Jobe said. "Honestly, it really does suck, but I think we'll be doing something special towards the end of the year that I can hopefully be a part of and really add to."

Jobe said that he has not suffered any setbacks in his recovery.

"We're seeing the light at the end of the tunnel now," Jobe said.

"Seems like you are almost out of the tunnel," a reporter said.

"Fingers crossed," Jobe said, smiling.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press:Jackson Jobe injury report, Tigers top prospect back before September?

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3/01/2026 10:04:00 AM

Jackson Jobe injury: Tigers prospect plots 'important innings' after Tommy John surgery

LAKELAND, FL –Detroit Tigersright-handed pitcher Jackson Jobe offered an encouraging update on his rehab from Tommy John ...

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USMNT's Noahkai Banks opens the door to Germany switch

U.S. men's national team defender Noahkai Banks has given a clear indication he is still very much open to representing Germany.

Banks has emerged as one of the USMNT's best defensive prospects in years, becoming an automatic starter for Augsburg in the Bundesliga this season despite only recently turning 19.

The defender was born in Hawaii to an American father and German-Spanish mother. After moving to Washington, D.C., Banks relocated to Germany when he was a young child.

Banks has only represented the U.S. at the youth international level and has received one senior call-up.

But speaking after he provided a key assist in Augsburg's 2-0 win over FC Köln on Friday, Feb. 27, Banks admitted that he was "torn" over whether to move forward with the U.S. or switch to Germany.

"It's a difficult decision regarding my nationality. I'm very torn," he said. "I'm in contact with both the USA and Germany and both national coaches," Banks said.

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"I hopefully have a long career ahead of me, so I want to think carefully and speak with my family. I don't want to make it dependent on a World Cup. I'm just happy to be in this position and to be able to make this decision. We'll see what happens."

5. Christian Pulisic - 32 (2016-present; through Nov. 18, 2024)

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USMNT all-time leading goal scorers

Banks' comments were markedly differentfrom only weeks agowhen he said that "there's not a thought of switching" to Germany.

The teenager was called in for the USMNT's September camp, but didn't see the field in friendlies against South Korea and Japan. He was not called in for matches in October and November.

The USMNT will face Belgium and Portugal in March friendlies, the team's final two matches before Mauricio Pochettino names his World Cup roster.

Earlier this month, USMNT legendLandon Donovan predicted that Bankswouldn't just make the World Cup squad, but would be starting in the tournament on home soil.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Noahkai Banks considering making USMNT switch to Germany

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3/01/2026 10:04:00 AM

USMNT's Noahkai Banks opens the door to Germany switch

U.S. men's national team defender Noahkai Banks has given a clear indication he is still very much open to representi...

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2 indicted on firearm charges in connection with shooting outside Utah church

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A federal grand jury has indicted two men on firearms charges in connection with a shooting last month in a church parking lot in Salt Lake City that lefttwo people deadand six more injured.

The indictment unsealed Friday charges 32-year-old Ryan Toutai with unlawful disposition of a firearm and 26-year-old Fineeva Maka with felon in possession of a firearm, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Utah said.

Investigators used cellphone videos and photos and GPS ankle monitor evidence to tie the two men to a pistol recovered from theJan. 7 shooting,the U.S. Attorney's Office said. Prosecutors allege the two men are gang members.

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The violence took place in the back parking lot of a place of worship for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, also known as the Mormon church. Investigators have said the shooting broke out from a dispute between people who knew each other and were attending a funeral. All the victims were adults. No one has yet been charged in the actual killings.

The church mostly serves Tongan congregants, its website says. In the 1890s, LDS missionaries brought their faith to Tonga, an archipelago in the South Pacific. More than 25% of the U.S. Tongan population resides in Utah, the headquarters of the church.

Toutai and Maka are scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday. It wasn't clear if they had attorneys and The Associated Press could not immediately reach them for comment. The federal public defender's office also could not be reached.

Police previously arrested Toutai for a charge of felony obstruction of justice in the case. He was in jail on Saturday. A third man also was arrested on the same charge.

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3/01/2026 09:32:00 AM

2 indicted on firearm charges in connection with shooting outside Utah church

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A federal grand jury has indicted two men on firearms charges in connection with a shooting last mo...

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Pakistani and Afghan forces clash as diplomatic efforts intensify

KABUL, Feb 28 (Reuters) - Fighting between Pakistan and Afghanistan's Taliban military entered its third day on Saturday as foreign governments expressed increasing concern and called for urgent talks.

Aftermath of airstrikes amid Afghanistan-Pakistan conflict, in Kandahar

Pakistan's strikes on Friday hit Taliban military ‌installations and posts, some of them in Kabul and Kandahar, in one of the deepest Pakistani incursions into ‌its western neighbour in years, officials said.

Islamabad accuses the Taliban of harbouring Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants, who it says are waging an insurgency inside Pakistan, a ​charge the Taliban denies.

Pakistan said it was responding to cross-border assaults, while Kabul complained of a breach of its sovereignty, saying it remained open to dialogue but warning that any wider conflict would have serious consequences.

PAKISTAN-AFGHANISTAN FIGHTING RAISES FEAR OF LONG WAR

The fighting has raised the risk of a protracted conflict along the rugged 2,600-km (1,600-mile) frontier.

Diplomatic efforts gathered pace late on Friday as Afghanistan ‌said its foreign minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, ⁠had spoken with Saudi Arabia's Prince Faisal bin Farhan about reducing tensions and keeping diplomatic channels open.

The European Union urged both sides to de-escalate and engage in dialogue, while the United ⁠Nations urged an immediate end to hostilities.

Russia urged a return to talks, while China said it was deeply concerned and ready to help ease tensions.

The U.S. State Department said the U.S. supported Pakistan's right to defend itself against attacks by the Taliban.

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A U.S. official, ​speaking on ​condition of anonymity, said Washington did not view Pakistan as the ​aggressor and that Islamabad was under pressure to ‌address security challenges.Exchanges of fire continued along the border overnight.

Pakistani security sources said an operation dubbed "Ghazab Lil Haq" was ongoing and that Pakistani forces had destroyed numerous Taliban posts and camps. Reuters could not independently verify the claims.

Both sides have reported heavy losses. Pakistan said 12 of its soldiers and 274 Taliban had been killed while the Taliban said 13 of its fighters and 110 Pakistani soldiers had died.

Taliban deputy spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat said 52 civilians had been killed and 66 wounded ‌in the Khost and Paktika provinces. Reuters could not verify the ​figures.

Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif said Islamabad's patience had run out ​and described the fighting as "open war".

Taliban Interior Minister Sirajuddin ​Haqqani said in a speech that the conflict would be "very costly", and that Afghan forces had ‌not deployed broadly beyond those already engaged.

He said ​the Taliban had defeated "the world" through "unity ​and solidarity" and through "great patience and perseverance" rather than superior military power.

Pakistan's military capabilities far exceed those of Afghanistan, with a standing army of hundreds of thousands and a modern air force.

The Taliban lacks any conventional air ​force and relies largely on light ‌weaponry and ground forces.

However, the Islamist group is battle-hardened after two decades of insurgency against U.S.-led forces before ​returning to power in 2021.

(Reporting by Mohammad Yunus Yawar in Kabul and Ariba Shahid in Karachi; Additional ​reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt in Washington; Editing by Sam Holmes)

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3/01/2026 09:32:00 AM

Pakistani and Afghan forces clash as diplomatic efforts intensify

KABUL, Feb 28 (Reuters) - Fighting between Pakistan and Afghanistan's Taliban military entered its third day on Satur...

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