Starting XI: Homestretch

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.

Sporting Kansas City’s four-game winning run and long-standing shutout streak came to an end Saturday in a 3-1 defeat to Seattle Sounders FC at CenturyLink Field. Diego Rubio fired the visitors in front after just 92 seconds, but a quick equalizer from Raul Ruidiaz snapped Sporting KC’s shutout streak at 387 minutes — the sixth-longest in club history — before the Sounders surged ahead in the second half on an own goal and a Nicolas Lodeiro penalty kick. The result dropped Sporting KC (13-7-6, 45 points) to third place in the West, while Seattle (12-9-5, 41 points) claimed an MLS-record eighth straight league win to stay in fifth.

2. Rubio Stays Hot

Despite Saturday’s loss, Sporting KC forward Diego Rubio continued his red-hot run of form with a second-minute strike, the sixth-earliest in Sporting KC regular season history. Rubio has now set a club record with a goal or an assist in seven consecutive league matches. He has totaled five goals in as many games and now holds a tie of the team lead with eight MLS tallies on the season.

3. Homestretch

Sporting KC will look to bounce back this Saturday when the club return to Children’s Mercy Park to host Eastern Conference side Orlando City SC (7-16-3, 24 points) at 7:30 p.m. CT. Tickets for the match are available via SeatGeek.com as Manager Peter Vermes’ men lock horns with the likes of former Sporting KC duo Dom Dwyer and Oriol Rosell. The interconference clash will air live on FOX Sports Kansas City Plus, FOX Sports Midwest Plus and FOX Sports GO.

4. Rough Results

Saturday’s MLS results did no favors for Sporting KC as the club slipped to third place in the West after leaders FC Dallas and second-place LAFC secured 4-2 victories. FC Dallas went four points clear of Sporting KC with a Texas Derby defeat of the Houston Dynamo, while LAFC jumped a point ahead of Vermes’ men with an impressive road win over Toronto FC. Elsewhere in the West, Real Salt Lake became the first team in MLS history to score six goals in consecutive league games with a 6-2 demolition of the LA Galaxy and Vancouver Whitecaps FC edged the San Jose Earthquakes 2-1.

5. Rubio Bound for Asia

Diego Rubio has joined the Chile Men’s National Team for two upcoming friendly matches in Asia. Rubio and Chile are set to face Japan on Friday at the Sapporo Dome in Sapporo, Japan, and South Korea on Sept. 11 at Suwon World Cup Stadium in Suwon, South Korea. Chile are No. 12 in the latest FIFA rankings and two-time defending Copa America champions, having won the continental title in 2015 and 2016. Rubio is part of a 24-man squad assembled by head coach Reinaldo Rueda, which also includes the likes of FC Barcelona midfielder Arturo Vidal and Besiktas defender Gary Medel.

6. Russell and Salloi head to Europe

Scottish forward Johnny Russell and Hungarian forward Daniel Salloi have joined their respective national teams this week for the start of the inaugural UEFA Nations League. Russell and Scotland will play two home matches at Hampden Park in Glasgow, hosting world No. 2-ranked Belgium in a high-profile friendly on Friday before opening their UEFA Nations League campaign in Group C1 against Albania on Sept. 10. Salloi and Hungary will begin UEFA Nations League play with two games in Group C2, traveling to meet Finland on Saturday at Tampere Stadium in Tampere and hosting Greece on Sept. 11 at Groupama Arena in Budapest.

7. Rangers Prevail

The Swope Park Rangers (12-9-7, 43 points) defeated rivals OKC Energy FC (10-13-5, 35 points) by a 1-0 scoreline on Sunday at Children’s Mercy Park to secure their third consecutive victory and vault to sixth place in the USL’s Western Conference. Hadji Barry bagged his team-leading 11th goal of the season after 26 minutes as the Rangers won their second of five straight home games. Head coach Paulo Nagamura’s side is back in action next Sunday at Children’s Mercy Park, hosting Fresno FC (8-9-11, 35 points) at 4 p.m. CT. Tickets for the match are available at SeatGeek.com or at the stadium box office on gameday.

8. Winning Start

The Sporting KC U-19s opened the 2018-19 U.S. Soccer Development Academy season with a 2-0 victory over the Colorado Rapids U-19s on Sunday at Children's Mercy Victory Field inside Swope Soccer Village.The U-19s were one of three academy sides to kick off the new campaign on Sunday in Kansas City, as the U-15s and U-17s took losses in the first two games of a tripleheader against the Rapids.

9. Roster Revealed

On Sunday, U.S. Men’s National Team head coach Dave Sarachan unveiled a 24-player roster that will gather ahead of the team’s challenging September Kickoff Series matches against Brazil and Mexico. The Americans will face world powerhouse Brazil on Friday at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey (6:30 p.m. CT, FS1) before battling archrivals Mexico on Sept. 11 (7:30 p.m. CT, ESPN) at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee.

10. #TheBest Finalists

The three finalists for The Best FIFA Men’s Player were revealed today, with two-time defending winner Cristiano Ronaldo joined by Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric and Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah. Barcelona forward Lionel Messi failed to make the three-man shortlist for world player of the year for the first time since 2006, while Modric and Salah have earned their first nominations. Ronaldo and Messi have been the only winners of the award since 2008. The awards ceremony will take place in London on Sept. 24.

11. Good Samaritan

Sporting KC and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City have teamed up to recognize Blue KC Sporting Samaritans, honoring students and teachers who make the Kansas City community a better place to live, work and play. Once a month, a Samaritan will be recognized on the pitch at Children's Mercy Park before a Sporting KC home game. The Samaritan and a limited number of guests will receive a behind the scenes VIP experience with a wide variety of all-inclusive perks. Supporters can nominate members of their community to be the next Blue KC Sporting Samaritan at SportingKC.com/bluekc.

Games to Watch (Sept. 4-7, 2018)