Starting XI: Bound for the Playoffs

Starting XI, presented by StorageMart, 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.

Johnny Russell bagged a sensational late equalizer on Saturday night as Sporting KC clawed back to earn a 1-1 draw with the LA Galaxy and clinch a berth in the Audi 2018 MLS Cup Playoffs. A hotly contested encounter at rain-soaked Children’s Mercy Park saw the Galaxy (12-11-9, 45 points) surge ahead on a 25th-minute penalty kick from Zlatan Ibrahimovic, but Russell’s dazzling solo effort in the 83rd minute restored parity and gave Sporting KC (15-8-8, 53 points) the requisite point to seal a club-record eighth straight playoff appearance.

Saturday’s result leaves Sporting KC tied for second place in the Western Conference with LAFC, four points behind leaders FC Dallas. Seventh-place LA, meanwhile, drew within a point of Real Salt Lake for the sixth and final playoff spot in the West.

2. Reserve Your Seats

Tickets for Sporting KC’s first potential home playoff match at Children’s Mercy Park are now on sale via SeatGeek.com. Sporting KC Season Ticket Members will automatically retain their seats for all playoff matches, excluding the MLS Cup final, and can contact their Client Services Executive for questions and further information. If Sporting KC does not host a match in the Audi 2018 MLS Cup Playoffs, all individuals who purchased tickets through SeatGeek will be automatically refunded.

3. Battle for Seeding

With a playoff spot secured, Sporting KC will now battle for seeding in the Western Conference heading into the final three weeks of the regular season. The top two finishers in the West will earn Knockout Round byes to the conference semifinals, playing away in the first leg on Nov. 4 before hosting the decisive second leg on Nov. 11. The No. 3 and No. 4 seeds will host single-elimination Knockout Round matches on Oct. 31 or Nov. 1 against the No. 6 and No. 5 seeds, respectively.

Sporting KC faces a pivotal two-game Western Conference road swing — visiting Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Oct. 17 and leaders FC Dallas on Oct. 21 — prior to hosting LAFC in the club’s monumental regular season finale on Oct. 28. Tickets for the all-important Decision Day showdown, slated for 3:30 p.m. CT, are now available at SeatGeek.com.

4. Claim Your Gear

Sporting KC fans can visit MLSstore.com to shop for the newest assortment of gear for the Audi 2018 MLS Cup Playoffs. Manager Peter Vermes’ side will make their eighth consecutive postseason appearance this fall, having hoisted the 2013 MLS Cup prior to exiting in the Knockout Round in each of the last four seasons.

5. Called Up

Sporting KC's Felipe Gutierrez, Krisztian Nemeth and Johnny Russell have joined their respective national teams this week for matches during October's FIFA international window. Gutierrez and Chile will face Peru at 7:30 p.m. CT Friday in a friendly at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. Nemeth and Hungary will continue their UEFA Nations League campaign at 1:45 p.m. CT Friday against Greece, streaming live on ESPN+ from Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus, Greece. Lastly, Russell and Scotland will resume their UEFA Nations League journey at 1:45 p.m. CT Thursday, visiting Israel at Sammy Ofer Stadium in Haifa, before returning home to meet world No. 7-ranked Portugal in a friendly at 11 a.m. CT Sunday at Hampden Park in Glasgow. Both Scotland matches will stream live on ESPN+.

6. Cast Your Vote

Sporting KC will host the club’s 2018 Pitch Black awards celebration on Friday at Children’s Mercy Park from 6-11 p.m CT. Pitch Black, presented by Audi, will see fans join Sporting KC players and coaches for an evening of drinks, dining and live entertainment on the pitch. Fans can click here to vote for their 2018 award winners in the categories listed below. Voting will close on Tuesday night.

• Most Valuable Player, presented by Audi
• Offensive Player of the Year, presented by Ivy investments
• Defensive Player of the Year, presented by Firedoor Solutions
• Newcomer of the Year, presented by Rosnet
• Goal of the Year, presented by Heartland Coca-Cola

7. SPR Send-Off

The two-time defending USL Western Conference champion Swope Park Rangers (14-11-8, 7th place) will host LA Galaxy II (10-16-7, 13th place) at 2 p.m. CT Sunday at Children's Mercy Park in the team's regular season finale. Tickets are available online at SeatGeek.com and the first 500 fans in attendance will receive SPR t-shirts as part of Fan Appreciation Day festivities, which will also include specials on food, drinks and merchandise. The Rangers will clinch a third straight playoff berth with a win on Sunday as one of the top eight finishers in the Western Conference.

In conjunction with Sunday's match, the Rangers are offering a Matchday Clinic package that includes a pair of tickets plus a one-hour postgame on-field clinic with player photos and autographs for $45. Call 888-4KC-GOAL for more information.

8. Putting On a Clinic

Sporting KC duo Ilie Sanchez and Andreu Fontas will participate in a free futsal clinic for Sporting Club Network members from 5:30-7 p.m. CT Thursday at Wyandotte High School in Kansas City, Kansas (2501 Minnesota Ave.). Ilie and Fontas will help guide local youth players through drills on the court before holding a photo and autograph session afterwards.

9. Wild, Wild West

Sporting KC's 1-1 draw with LA came on the same night that first-place FC Dallas and third-place LAFC cruised to shutout victories. FC Dallas ousted Orlando 2-0 at home to pull four points clear at the top, while LAFC pulled level with Sporting KC on 53 points after casting aside Colorado 3-0 at Dick's Sporting Goods Park. In another marquee Western Conference clash, the fourth-place Portland Timbers made a strong statement with a 4-1 road win over sixth-place Real Salt Lake. As a result, the Galaxy now trail RSL by a single point for the sixth and final playoff spot in the West.

10. Race to the Top

It appears that the Supporters' Shield race will be decided over the final two weekends of the 2018 regular season. Leaders Atlanta United FC and second-place New York Red Bulls cruised to two-goal victories on Saturday, setting up for a dramatic final two matchdays on Oct. 21 and 28. Atlanta (20-6-6, 66 points) is seeking its first major trophy since joining MLS last year, while New York (20-7-5, 65 points) previously claimed the Supporters' Shield in 2013 and 2015.

11. Monday Night Football

A rare version of Monday Night Football "MLS Edition" will take place tonight when fifth-place Seattle (14-11-5, 47 points) hosts all-but-eliminated Houston Dynamo (9-13-8, 35 points) tonight at 9:30 p.m. CT on ESPN+. The Sounders are closing in on their 10th straight playoff appearance, which would tie a league record, while the Dynamo look destined to miss the postseason after lifting the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup trophy last month.

Games to Watch (Oct. 8-11, 2018)