Starting XI: Desert Denouement

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 will face the Portland Timbers at 5 p.m. CT Saturday in the club's final match of the 2018 preseason, presented by Children's Mercy. Saturday's fixture will serve as the third-place match in the Mobile Mini Sun Cup preseason tournament at Kino Sports Complex in Tucson, Arizona. SportingKC.com and the Sporting KC Facebook page will stream the game live.

2. Evans Inked

Sporting KC has signed free agent defender/midfielder and two-time MLS Cup champion Brad Evans, the club announced on Tuesday. Evans has amassed 28 goals and 31 assists in 255 MLS appearances (including playoffs) since beginning his professional career in 2007. The versatile veteran, who lifted his first MLS Cup in 2008 with Columbus Crew SC, arrives in Kansas City after spending each of the last nine seasons with Seattle Sounders FC, where he won four Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup championships and the 2016 MLS Cup.

3. First Fall

Sporting KC fell 2-1 to the New England Revolution on Wednesday at Kino Sports Complex in Tucson, Arizona, suffering their first defeat of the 2018 preseason, presented by Children’s Mercy. Forward Diego Rubio buried a first-half penalty kick for Sporting KC, but New England claimed victory in the Mobile Mini Sun Cup clash behind an early own goal and a Kelyn Rowe strike just before halftime. The result drops Sporting KC’s exhibition record to 4-1-1 ahead of Saturday’s preseason finale against Portland.

4. Let’s Launch

All supporters are invited to attend Sporting KC’s “For Glory. For City.” Season Launch Party presented by Ivy Investments on Wednesday at Children’s Mercy Park. Held in partnership with adidas and Bud Light, the Season Launch Party is free and open to the public. Fans planning to attend the event can RSVP at SportingKC.com/RSVP.

The “For Glory. For City.” Season Launch Party will start at 5 p.m. CT in the Budweiser Brew House at the northeast corner of Children’s Mercy Park, giving fans the opportunity to purchase the club’s new secondary jersey for the first time. The season-opening celebration will then begin in the Sporting Bay on the east side of the world-class stadium with appearances from all Sporting KC players and coaches.

5. First Class

The Sporting Kansas City Academy U-17s qualified for the Champions Division at the 2017-18 Generation adidas Cup Finals, to be held in April at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas, with a 1-1 draw Monday against the Seattle Sounders U-17s at StubHub Center in Carson, California. The result secured a top-two finish in the West Region of GA Cup qualifying and an automatic berth as one of eight MLS academy teams which will participate in the Champions Division of the GA Cup Finals alongside top international opponents this spring.

6. Kings of the Court

The Sporting KC Academy's SKC Indigo won the U-19 age group of the 2018 U.S. Youth Futsal National Championships on Monday at New Century Fieldhouse in New Century, Kansas, with a 6-2 victory over Ambassadors (Pennsylvania). U.S. Youth Futsal was co-founded in 1997 by Sporting KC Manager Peter Vermes and Sporting KC Academy Director of Coaching Jon Parry. The U.S. Youth Futsal National Championships, celebrating its 11th year in 2018, is the largest national youth futsal tournament in the United States with 118 teams from across the U.S. and Canada.

7. Freshly Minted

The Swope Park Rangers have signed midfielder Chase Minter ahead of the 2018 United Soccer League season, the club announced Wednesday. Minter spent the 2017 campaign with Real Monarchs SLC, who were crowned USL Regular Season champions, and has been on trial with the Rangers since the start of 2018. SPR continue their preseason campaign Saturday at Swope Soccer Village, hosting Creighton University at 3:30 p.m. CT in a match that will be free and open to the public.

8. Conquering CONCACAF

Five Major League Soccer teams begin their competitive campaigns this week in the CONCACAF Champions League, the premier club tournament in North America. Toronto FC topped the Colorado Rapids at a frigid Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on Tuesday, while FC Dallas suffered a 1-0 setback at Tauro FC of Panama on Wednesday. Tonight’s Round of 16 first-leg doubleheader sees Seattle Sounders FC and the New York Red Bulls travel to El Salvador and Honduras, respectively. Both games will kick off at 9 p.m. CT and stream live on www.univisiondeportes.com.

9. European Affairs

While the CONCACAF Champions League unfolds in North America, the UEFA Champions League knockout rounds continue across the Atlantic. On Tuesday, Chelsea and Barcelona battled to a stirring 1-1 draw while Bayern Munich cruised past Besiktas. On Wednesday, Sevilla and Manchester United scraped to a scoreless draw and Shakhtar Donetsk prevailed 2-1 over Roma.

10. Eye on eMLS

After the announcement last month of eMLS, a new competitive EA Sports FIFA 18 league featuring the best 19 FIFA players from the U.S. and Canada, we now know more details about its championship event. Sporting KC will announce its eMLS player signing in the near future.

11. Carabao Clash

England’s first major trophy of the 2017-18 season will be awarded Sunday when Manchester City and Arsenal go head-to-head in the Carabao Cup Final at Wembley Stadium in London. Manchester City are runaway leaders in the English Premier League, while Arsenal currently occupy sixth place in the table — nine points below the top four UEFA Champions League qualifying spots.

Games to Watch (Feb. 24-26)