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. Ousted by Atlanta
Sporting’s home unbeaten run was snapped at 10 regular season matches in a 3-0 defeat to Atlanta United FC on Sunday night at Children’s Mercy Park. Josef Martinez scored twice and Ezequiel Barco added a goal and two assists as the reigning MLS Cup champions (3-3-2, 11 points) handed Sporting (2-3-4, 10 points) their first regular season home loss since July 2018.
Sporting will look to bounce back this Sunday when the club makes its inaugural visit to Audi Field for a nationally televised matchup against Eastern Conference co-leaders D.C. United (6-3-2, 20 points). Kickoff is slated for 6 p.m. CT with live coverage on FS1, FOX Deportes, FOX Sports GO, Sports Radio 810 WHB and ESPN Deportes KC 1480 AM.
3. Get Your Tickets
Single-game tickets to Sporting’s last nine MLS home matches of 2019, beginning with a star-studded showdown against first-place LAFC on July 3, will go on sale at SportingKC.com/tickets beginning at 10 a.m. CT Tuesday. Supporters will have the opportunity to purchase single-game tickets for every remaining regular season match at world-class Children’s Mercy Park as Sporting aims to secure a club-record ninth straight playoff berth.
4. Rangers at the Double
The Swope Park Rangers (0-4-2, 2 points) will take the field twice this week, beginning with tonight's USL Championship home match against two-time defending champions Louisville City FC (4-3-1, 13 points) at Children's Mercy Park. The 2017 USL Cup rematch will kick off at 7 p.m. CT and tickets are on sale at SeatGeek.com or at the stadium's east box office.
After battling Louisville, SPR will hit the road for their inaugural meeting with Nashville SC (4-2-2, 14 points) at 7 p.m. CT Saturday at First Tennessee Park. Both Rangers games this week will stream live on ESPN+.
Sporting midfielder Gianluca Busio and forward Tyler Freeman will continue their Concacaf U-17 Championship campaign this week with the United States U-17 Men's National Team at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. The USA U-17s will conclude group stage play tonight, facing Guatemala at 5 p.m. CT with an English-language live stream on the Concacaf Facebook page and a Spanish-language telecast on Univision Deportes.
Having won their first two group stage matches, the USA has already qualified for the Round of 16 where they will meet Guadeloupe at 5 p.m. CT on Thursday. Should they prevail, the Americans would advance to the quarterfinals at 2 p.m. CT on Sunday. The four tournament semifinalists will qualify for the 2019 FIFA U-17 World Cup as representatives of Concacaf.
6. Green Ribbon Champion
Sporting Kansas City President and CEO Jake Reid was announced as a Green Ribbon Champion today by Midwest Transplant Network, joining a diverse coalition of local leaders committed to increasing the number of registered organ donors in communities across Kansas and Missouri.
7. Deadline Day
Major League Soccer’s primary transfer will officially close Tuesday night at 11:59 p.m. CT. During the primary transfer window, MLS clubs can request International Transfer Certificates (ITCs) from players' former clubs to complete signings, loans and transfer deals.
- 2019 MLS Primary Transfer Window: Feb. 13 – May 7
- 2019 MLS Secondary Transfer Window: July 9 – Aug. 9
During the primary transfer window, MLS clubs can request International Transfer Certificates (ITCs) from players' former clubs to complete signings, loans and transfer deals.
8. Young Guns
The Sporting KC Academy enjoyed a successful weekend in the state of Colorado and at Swope Soccer Village, opening the month of May on a winning note. The U-15s, U-17s and U-19s traveled to the Rocky Mountains for a pair of U.S. Soccer Development Academy tripleheaders, facing Real Colorado on Friday and the Colorado Rapids on Sunday, while the Sporting KC U-12s earned a two-game sweep with wins over FC Wichita on Saturday night and Sunday morning.
9. Tune In Tuesday
A new episode of The Sporting KC Show Podcast will debut at 7 p.m. CT Tuesday with hosts Nate Bukaty and Carter Augustine. The duo will hear from a Sporting KC guest and look ahead to a busy week of MLS action.
10. Pub Parties
Supporters across the Kansas City region are invited to #DCvSKC watch parties on Sunday at any of the club's official pub partners. Among them is No Other Pub in the Kansas City Power & Light District, serving as the flagship hub for Sporting in the heart of downtown. From 5:30 p.m. CT until the final whistle, No Other Pub will offer $4 Bud Light drafts, $5 Coronas and an all-you-can-eat buffet with bottomless domestic drafts.
11. Saturday at Swope
The Sporting KC Academy U-15s, U-17s and U-19s will continue their playoff pushes next Saturday in a U.S. Soccer Development Academy tripleheader against Texans SC Houston at Swope Soccer Village. The U-19s will kick off at 10 a.m. CT, followed by the U-17s at 12:30 p.m. and the U-15s at 3 p.m. All three games are free and open to the public, and fans can follow @SKCAcademy on Twitter for live updates.
