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.
1. #ClaimTheCup
As the No. 1 seed in the West, Sporting KC has earned a Knockout Round bye to the two-legged Western Conference Semifinals of the Audi 2018 MLS Cup Playoffs. Manager Peter Vermes’ side will play away in the first leg this Sunday and host the decisive second leg on Sunday, Nov. 11. Tickets for that match—the first playoff tilt to be played at Children's Mercy Park since the 2013 MLS Cup—are now available via SeatGeek.com.
In the conference semifinals, Sporting KC will face the lowest-seeded team to advance from the Knockout Round. No. 3 LAFC hosts No. 6 Real Salt Lake at 9:30 p.m. CT tonight, with the No. 5 seed Portland Timbers already through to the conference semifinals after beating FC Dallas 2-1 on Wednesday.
In the buildup to the conference semifinals, SportingKC.com took a position-by-position look at arguably the most balanced team in Sporting KC history. Serving as a regular season recap and a playoff preview, the series unfolded in the following order: Goalkeeper Tim Melia on Monday, defenders on Tuesday, midfielders on Wednesday and forwards on Thursday.
3. Peter the Great
Sporting KC Manager Peter Vermes is one of three finalists for MLS Coach of the Year, Major League Soccer announced today. Vermes, who was previously an MLS Coach of the Year finalist in 2011 and 2012, is up for the annual award alongside Gerardo “Tata” Martino of Atlanta United FC and Bob Bradley of LAFC. Sporting KC went a combined 3-0-0 against Atlanta and LAFC this season with six goals scored and just one allowed from the penalty spot, also shutting out both teams in their home venues. The 2018 MLS Coach of the Year recipient will be announced at a later date.
4. Medranda's Masterpiece
The 2018 MLS regular season produced a whopping 1,247 goals, the most in the league's 23-year history. Very few, if any, were more impressive than the Jimmy Medranda wonderstrike from Sporting KC's 6-0 win over Vancouver Whitecaps FC on April 20 at Children's Mercy Park. Medranda's long-range stunner is one of 16 finalists for AT&T 2018 MLS Goal of the Year. Fan voting is open at MLSsoccer.com now through Sunday, Nov. 11, at midnight PT. Supporters can also cast their MLS Goal of the Year vote on the MLS app.
Tim Melia, the reigning MLS Goalkeeper of the Year, set a career high with 106 saves during a standout 2018 season. Arguably none were better than his full-extension dive to deny Yordy Reyna in the seventh minute of Sporting KC's 6-0 win over the Vancouver Whitecaps FC on April 20 at Children's Mercy Park. Melia's sprawling stop is one of 16 finalists for MLS Save of the Year, announced on Thursday. Fan voting is open at MLSsoccer.com through Sunday, Nov. 11, at midnight PT.
6. Timbers Roll
A pair of excellent strikes from Diego Valeri did the trick as the 10-man Portland Timbers edged FC Dallas 2-1 in Wednesday night's Western Conference Knockout Round showdown at Toyota Stadium. Portland will now face either Sporting KC or Seattle in the conference semifinals, depending on the outcome of tonight's matchup between No. 3 LAFC and No. 6 Real Salt Lake. That game kicks off on ESPN2 at 9:30 p.m. CT. Sporting KC will face the lowest remaining seed in their conference semifinal series.
7. Big Win in Big Apple
New York City FC are returning to the Eastern Conference Semifinals for the third straight year after ousting the Philadelphia Union 3-1 on Wednesday at Yankee Stadium. The Philadelphia Union are still searching for the club's first-ever playoff win, having suffered a one-sided Knockout Round loss just three days after losing to NYCFC in their regular season finale.
8. Double Dip
The Knockout Round is only halfway over. Tonight the East's No. 4 seed D.C. United will battle No. 5 Columbus Crew SC in the first playoff match ever at Audi Field (7 p.m. CT, FS1 & UniMas). That will be followed by No. 3 seed LAFC hosting No. 6 Real Salt Lake in the first playoff tilt held at Banc of California Stadium (9:30 p.m. CT, ESPN2 & UniMas).
Swope Park Rangers forward Hadji Barry became a naturalized citizen of the United States last Thursday during a ceremony at the Lied Center of Kansas in Lawrence. Barry, the Swope Park Rangers Team MVP in 2018, led the squad in scoring with a career-high 19 goals this season, including goals in 11 of the club's last 12 games. Click here for a photo gallery of his naturalization event.
10. Class in Session
The Sporting KC Academy U-15s will continue their season at 10 a.m. CT Saturday, hosting the San Antonio FC U-15s at Swope Soccer Village. The match is open to the public and free to attend. Follow @SKCAcademy on Twitter for updates throughout the 2018-19 Academy season.
11. College Crown
Children's Mercy Victory Field at Swope Soccer Village will play host to the 2018 Big 12 Soccer Championship semifinals and finals this weekend. Friday's semifinal doubleheader will see Baylor face Texas Tech at 4:30 p.m. CT and West Virginia meet Texas at 7 p.m. CT. The winners will then square off in Sunday's final at 2:30 p.m. CT with the Big 12 title up for grabs. Fans can purchase match tickets at the stadium box office prior to kickoff or by calling 816-389-4193.
