Starting XI: Colorado Comeback

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.

Sporting KC rallied from two goals down on the road in a 2-2 draw at the Colorado Rapids on Saturday. Felipe Gutierrez scored his League-leading fourth goal of the season and second-half substitute Diego Rubio capped the comeback with the game-tying goal in stoppage time to keep Sporting KC atop the Western Conference standings. Saturday marked the 10th time ever that Sporting KC had come back from two goals down to earn a result on the road.

2. Gutierrez Shines

For the second time in three weeks, Sporting KC midfielder Felipe Gutierrez has garnered MLSsoccer.com Team of the Week recognition. The Chilean made history in Saturday's 2-2 draw against Colorado, becoming the 10th MLS player all-time to score four goals in his first four regular season appearances.

Gutierrez spearheaded Sporting KC's comeback effort on Saturday, putting three of six shot attempts on target. Both totals were the most among all MLS players in Week 4. He also completed all eight passes in the attacking third en route to Audi Player Index Performance of the Week honors.

3. Vote Diego

For the third straight weekend, a Sporting KC player is among the finalists for AT&T MLS Goal of the Week. Following in the footsteps of Felipe Gutierrez and Graham Zusi, forward Diego Rubio came off the bench in the 88th minute for a heroic cameo appearance that helped Sporting KC rescue a 2-2 draw in a thrilling battle against the Colorado Rapids on Saturday night.

4. D.C. Up Next

Sporting KC returns to Children's Mercy Park this Saturday, hosting D.C. United (0-2-2, 2 points) at 7:30 p.m. CT. FOX Sports Kansas City Plus and FOX Sports Midwest Plus will air three hours of live television coverage at 7 p.m. CT, while ESPN 94.5 FM (English) and ESPN Deportes KC 1480 AM (Spanish) will carry the game over the radio. The Final Whistle Postgame Show will take place immediately after the match on 94.5 FM.

Tickets for Saturday's interconference clash are available via SeatGeek.com, and the first 10,000 fans through the gates will receive an Ike Opara bobblehead courtesy of match sponsor UMKC. Supporters are encouraged to donate new or gently used soccer equipment upon arriving at Children's Mercy Park, with all donors receiving a $10 Sporting Style gift card. Sporting KC will also present its first-ever Craft Beer Tasting Night courtesy of Anheuser-Busch. For $36, fans will receive one South Stand ticket, a wristband for entry into Sporting KC’s tailgate tent, a six-beer flight of Anheuser-Busch’s craft offerings, and a limited-edition 16-oz tasting glass that can be taken into the stadium.

5. Top of the West

Week 4 in MLS saw Sporting KC’s fellow Western Conference competitors battle to draws. FC Dallas and Portland scraped to a 1-1 stalemate while Vancouver and the LA Galaxy settled for a scoreless tie. MLSsoccer.com counted down the top 10 plays of the week, while Susannah Collins, Calen Carr, Andrew Wiebe and Matt Doyle broke down all of the storylines that emerged from the action.

6. Salloi Overseas

Sporting KC forward Daniel Salloi earned his fourth cap for the Hungary U-21 Men’s National Team on Monday, playing the first 51 minutes of a 3-0 defeat to group leaders Belgium in UEFA Euro Under-21 Championship qualifying. Last Friday, Salloi started and recorded an assist to pace the Hungary U-21s to a 4-0 home victory over the Cyprus U-21s in Budapest.

7. Beat the Pro

All Sporting KC fans are invited to No Other Pub in the Kansas City Power & Light District on Wednesday for the Beat the Pro FIFA Tournament featuring forward Daniel Salloi and Sporting KC's eMLS competitor Alex Betancourt. From 6-9 p.m. CT, Betancourt will go head-to-head with guests on the PlayStation 4 version of EA SPORTS FIFA 18. Additional programming includes photo and autograph opportunities with Salloi, jersey bag giveaways and No Other Pub happy hour specials.

8. Rangers Stay Hot

The Rangers cruised past Seattle Sounders FC 2 by a 4-2 scoreline in their home opener at Shawnee Mission South District Stadium on Saturday night. Kharlton Belmar, on loan from Sporting KC, exploded for his second straight brace to become the Rangers’ all-time scoring leader with 19 goals.

9. SPR Inks Eight

The Rangers have signed eight Sporting KC Academy players to Academy contracts for the 2018 USL season, the club announced Friday. Defenders Massimo McGuire and Kaveh Rad, midfielders Sebastian Cruz, Ryan Fessler, Sean Karani, Roman Knox and Jahon Rad and forward Wilson Harris have all inked deals to play with the Rangers in 2018.

10. Cup Conquest

The Sporting KC Academy U-17s are competing in the Championship Division of the 2017-18 Generation adidas Cup, a prestigious youth tournament that concludes Saturday at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas. Led by head coach Rumbani Munthali, the U-17s closed out the group stage today with a 1-0 loss to New York City FC and will play two more consolation matches this week. Follow the Sporting KC Academy on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat (skcacademy) for live updates and the latest news from Sporting KC's youth development teams.

11. Out in Irvine

While the U-17s battle in Frisco, Texas, the Sporting KC U-14s and U-15s are competing in the inaugural LA Galaxy Cup this week at Orange County Great Park in Irvine, California. Both sides will play matches on Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday with hopes of reaching Sunday's championship games.

Games to Watch (March 26-29, 2018)