Starting XI: Croizet's Crazy Volley

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 Kansas City defeated FC Dallas 3-2 in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Round of 16 on Saturday night. Punching their ticket to the quarterfinal round, Sporting KC will travel to either the Houston Dynamo or Minnesota United FC on a date yet to be decided. FC Dallas scored first in the 18th minute, but Daniel Salloi leveled the score for Sporting KC just before halftime. Salloi then gave Sporting KC the lead in the 66th, becoming the second-youngest player to score a brace for Sporting KC. FC Dallas then answered back in the 77th, however Yohan Croizet hit an absolutely stunning game-winner with a left-footed volley in the 89th.

2. Croizet’s Crazy Lefty

Yohan Croizet scored the game-winner in the U.S. Open Cup Round of 16 against FC Dallas on Saturday night, sending a zealous crowd at Children's Mercy Park into a frenzy — and it was incredible. After Manager Peter Vermes subbed out Daniel Salloi in the 85th minute, Croizet made the difference just four minutes after entering the match.

3. Sporting Stays Home

After Sporting KC's triumphant victory on Saturday, they will stay at home for MLS play this Saturday against rivals Houston Dynamo, kicking off at 7:30 p.m. CT. This is a rematch of last year’s Western Conference Knockout Round in which Houston prevailed 1-0 in extra time. A limited number of tickets for the game, including standing-room only tickets, are available on SeatGeek.com.

4. Fall in Fresno

Coming off a 3-2 win at home against the Real Monarchs, the Swope Park Rangers traveled to Fresno, California on Sunday to face Fresno FC and fell to a 4-1 loss. Fresno raced out to a 4-0 lead, however the Rangers didn't quit and 18-year-old Wilson Harris scored in the 86th minute. Tallying his first professional goal in his career, Wilson beat the Fresno FC keeper with the help of fellow Sporting KC Academy teammate Sean Karani, who assisted the strike.

5. Rangers Redemption?

The Swope Park Rangers will continue USL league play at home on Sunday against the Las Vegas Lights FC at 4 p.m. CT. After a tough loss on the road, head coach Paulo Nagamura and his squad look to bounce back on Sunday with some energy and focus to get another three points against Las Vegas Lights FC. Tickets for Sunday’s match can be purchased on SeatGeek.com.

6. Harris Nets First Pro Goal

Sporting KC Academy product Wilson Harris came on to the pitch in the second half hoping to make a difference for the Swope Park Rangers after a tough start, and he succeeded in doing so. He scored his first professional goal in Sunday’s match in the 86th minute, becoming the second-youngest scorer in SPR history. Harris was the leading scorer for the Sporting KC U-19s during the 2017-18 season, tallying 16 goals in just 14 appearances.

7. Academy in the Playoffs

Sporting KC’s Academy teams are set for the Development Academy Playoffs in Oceanside, California this week. The U-17s and U-19s will compete three group stage matches between Monday and Sunday, followed by the quarterfinal knockout round, which will take place on June 25-26 in Oceanside, CA.

Sporting KC is one of 26 academies to send both its U-17s and U-19s to the postseason this summer. The U-17s (15-7-4, 49 points) placed third in the Central Conference's Frontier Division, propelled by the likes of Gabe Findley (nine goals), Jahon Rad (eight goals), and U.S. youth international, Cameron Duke. The U-19s finished with an identical 15-7-4 record and a third-place finish in the Frontier Division. Among the standout performers were U.S. youth international Wilson Harris (16 goals), Roman Knox (11 goals) and Sporting KC homegrown midfielder Gianluca Busio.

8. King of the Court

Sporting KC will host its second King of the Court futsal tournament on Saturday at Edwardsville Park in Edwardsville, Kansas (1200 Blake St.), consisting of 5-v-5 matches for age groups 8-12 as well as 13 and up. The event will run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. CT, featuring a block party complete with music, yard games, skills challenges, food trucks, music DJs and more. Tournament registration is free for all teams and now open at SportingKC.com/kingofthecourt.

9. No Other Place to Watch

Through the final match of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, No Other Pub in the Kansas City Power and Light District will be Sporting KC’s World Cup Headquarters. No Other Pub will open every match day at 9 a.m. CT, showing a total of 54 matches live from Russia on the venue’s 150-square-foot video wall and surrounding HGTV screens. Food and drink specials will be available during each day’s World Cup watch party, including bloody marys, mimosas, breakfast tacos and biscuits and gravy. Attendees can enter to win giveaways for Sporting KC tickets and other prizes. Click here for the full watch party schedule.

10. World Cup Update

One thing that is certain about the 2018 FIFA World Cup? It’s unpredictable. For the first time in the history of the tournament, Brazil, Germany and Argentina all have failed to win their opening matches. Defending world champion Germany fell 1-0 to Mexico on Sunday, while Brazil and Argentina both failed to collect three points with 1-1 draws against Switzerland and Iceland, respectively. Portugal’s Christiano Ronaldo shined with a hat trick as Lionel Messi faltered with a missed penalty for Argentina. The World Cup never disappoints, especially with some world-class finishes. Watch all of the goals scored so far here.

11. Last Chance to Vote All-Star

The last day to vote for the 2018 MLS All-Star game on MLSsoccer.com is this Wednesday. Fans can vote for 10 players: a goalkeeper, three defenders, four midfielders and two forwards. Sporting KC has eight players eligible for the match against Juventus on Aug. 1 in Atlanta at Mercedes-Benz Stadium:

• Goalkeeper: Tim Melia
• Defenders: Matt Besler, Ike Opara and Graham Zusi
• Midfielders: Roger Espinoza and Ilie Sanchez
• Forwards: Johnny Russell and Daniel Salloi

MLS All-Star head coach, Gerardo “Tata” Martino will select the match day roster from the pool of eligible players, consisting of the All-Star Fan XI, two MLS Commissioner picks and players on the official All-Star Fan XI ballot.

Games to Watch (June 19-21, 2018)