Starting XI: Alone at the Top

Starting XI is a biweekly series on SportingKC.com that highlights 11 of the biggest storylines and news updates from Sporting Kansas City, MLS and soccer around the globe. Click here to visit the Starting XI archive.

Daniel Salloi and Gerso Fernandes struck in the second half as Sporting KC (7-2-2, 23 points) earned a momentous 2-0 victory over Atlanta United FC (7-2-1, 22 points) on Wednesday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium to leapfrog their opponents for first place in the MLS Supporters’ Shield standings.

Salloi opened the scoring with a spectacular curling effort in the 67th minute, tallying his second goal in as many games, before Fernandes came off the bench to seal the result against an Atlanta side that was reduced to 10 men following a first-half red card to goalkeeper Brad Guzan.

2. Beyond the Box Score

Is Sporting KC off to one of its best starts ever? And how did they make league history in their win over Atlanta? Find out that and more in the newest edition of Beyond The Box Score.

3. PV’s Spotlight

Sporting KC Manager Peter Vermes sat down with Nate Bukaty earlier this week to discuss his contract extension with the club through 2023. Vermes is one of Major League Soccer's most successful coaches and currently presides over the first-place team in the Supporters' Shield table. Catch the full interview below.

4. SPR Stumbles

The Swope Park Rangers (4-2-3, 15 points) suffered a 4-1 loss to Real Monarchs SLC (6-1-1, 19 points) on Wednesday at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman, Utah. On-loan Sporting KC forward Kharlton Belmar bagged the lone SPR goal for his league-leading eighth tally of the season.

5. Harris Heading to U-20s

Swope Park Rangers forward and Sporting KC Academy product Wilson Harris was named to the U.S. U-20 Men’s National Team on Wednesday for a 12-day training camp that will start in Florida and end with two matches against the Honduras U-20s on May 17 and 19 in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. Harris is set to make his U.S. U-20 debut, joining a 20-player squad under head coach Tab Ramos that will assemble in Bradenton, Florida before traveling south for games versus Honduras.

6. Back in Session

The Sporting KC Academy will travel to Houston this weekend for a pair of tripleheaders as the 2017-18 U.S. Soccer Development Academy season hits the stretch run. The Sporting KC U-15s, U-17s and U-19s will face Texans SC Houston on Saturday before meeting Houston Dynamo Youth on Sunday. Follow the Sporting KC Academy on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat (skcacademy) for live updates this weekend and throughout the year.

7. Midweek Madness

Sporting KC's impressive scalp of Atlanta wasn't the only midweek fixture to adorn Wednesday's MLS slate. In a rematch of the 2016 and 2017 MLS Cups, Seattle earned a huge 2-1 win at Toronto FC, former Sporting KC defender Kevin Ellis scored a late winner in Chicago's 1-0 defeat of Montreal, LAFC stayed hot with a 2-0 victory over Minnesota, and Columbus edged Philadelphia 1-0 in Ohio.

8. Fantastic Four

No Sporting KC? No problem. The MLS Supporters' Shield leaders are off this weekend, but soccer fans will have four other nationally televised matches to enjoy as a busy Week 11 draws to an exciting close.

9. Rooney to United?

No, not Manchester United. England's all-time leading scorer and English Premier League star Wayne Rooney is reportedly on the verge of joining D.C. United of Major League Soccer this summer. Click here for the latest updates on the saga.

10. Money Makers

The MLS Players Association today released the 2018 edition of its annual MLS Players Salary Guide. The guide contains salary information for every MLS player under contract as of May 1, 2018. Each entry features a player's base salary and that player's annual average guaranteed compensation as calculated by the MLSPA.

11. England’s End

The 2017-18 English Premier League campaign draws to a close Sunday with 10 matches set to kick off simultaneously at 9 a.m. CT. Among the fixtures to keep an eye on are Liverpool's home tilt with Brighton and Hove Albion as well as Chelsea's visit to Newcastle. Liverpool need a draw to clinch the final top-four spot and a berth in next year's UEFA Champions League, while Chelsea will need to win and hope for a Liverpool loss in order to secure a fourth-place finish.

Games to Watch (May 12-13, 2018)