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. Instant Classic
Sporting KC defeated Real Salt Lake in a 4-2 thriller on Sunday at Children’s Mercy Park to claim a 5-3 aggregate victory in the Western Conference Semifinals of the Audi 2018 MLS Cup Playoffs. Diego Rubio opened the scoring, Ilie Sanchez converted a penalty kick and Daniel Salloi bagged a brace as Sporting KC overcame second-half strikes from RSL’s Sebastian Saucedo and Damir Kreilach to win an instant classic between fierce rivals.
In a breathless battle that unfolded before a national audience on ESPN, Sporting KC tied a club postseason record with four goals and sealed progression to the conference finals for the first time since 2013. The team also improved its all-time home playoff record to 15-2-4, with Salloi becoming the fourth player in team history to score twice in a postseason match.
Sunday’s momentous triumph propels top-seeded Sporting KC into the two-legged Western Conference Championship, where they will face the No. 5 seed Portland Timbers.
Sporting KC will visit Portland in the first leg of the aggregate-goal series on Sunday, Nov. 25, at Providence Park. Kickoff is slated for 6:30 p.m. CT on FS1 and FOX Deportes. Manager Peter Vermes' side will then host the decisive second leg on Thursday, Nov. 29, at 8:30 p.m. CT. ESPN and ESPN Deportes will televise the game live from Children's Mercy Park.
Tickets for the second leg of the Western Conference Championship are now on sale to the general public at SeatGeek.com. Season Ticket Members who opted in for their playoff tickets will be messaged directly and can contact their Client Services Executive for questions and more information.
3. Salloi Stars
The 2018 season has been one to remember for Sporting KC forward Daniel Salloi. After showing glimpses of excellence in 2017, the 22-year-old Homegrown forward and Sporting KC Academy product has taken off this year with a team-best 15 goals in all competitions.
Sunday’s six-goal thriller featured an ensemble cast of Sporting KC standouts, but Salloi stole the headlines with a lethal first-half strike and a no-look finish deep into second-half stoppage time that sent 20,000 fans into joyous pandemonium. In doing so, Salloi became the first Homegrown Player in Major League Soccer history to score twice in a playoff match.
4. Felipe Flying
Sporting KC midfielder Felipe Gutierrez took Major League Soccer by storm upon his arrival in early 2018. The Chilean racked up five goals in the club’s first five games, earned MLS Player of the Month honors in March, before suffering a hernia injury that sidelined him from May to July.
After settling back into Manager Peter Vermes’ starting lineup, Gutierrez helped Sporting KC end the regular season on a five-game unbeaten run. And now that the Audi 2018 MLS Cup Playoffs are in full swing, the midfield veteran appears to have reclaimed his devastating form at just the right time. On Sunday, Gutierrez became the second Kansas City player ever to record two assists in a playoff game. He now leads the league with three assists during the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs—already more than the two he recorded in 20 regular season appearances.
5. Across the Atlantic
Sporting KC forward Johnny Russell has joined the Scotland Men’s National Team ahead of two pivotal matches in the 2018-19 UEFA Nations League. Russell and Scotland will conclude their UEFA Nations League group stage campaign during this month’s FIFA international window, visiting Albania on Saturday at Loro Borici Stadium in Shkoder before hosting Israel next Tuesday, Nov. 20, at Hampden Park in Glasgow. Both matches will kick off at 1:45 p.m. CT and stream live on ESPN+.
6. Florida Cruise
Sporting KC defender Jaylin Lindsey and the United States U-20 Men’s National Team completed their rampant sweep in Group A of the 2018 Concacaf U-20 Championship with a 7-0 win over Suriname on Friday at IMG Academy Stadium in Bradenton, Florida. Lindsey played the full 90 minutes as the USA finished atop Group A with 15 points from five games.
The U.S. U-20s will now advance to the Qualification Stage of the tournament, facing Group E winner Costa Rica on Friday and Group C winner Honduras next Monday, Nov. 19. The top two teams in the group will qualify for the 2018 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Poland, with the first-place finisher advancing to the Concacaf U-20 Championship final on Nov. 21 in Bradenton.
7. Plan Ahead
Major League Soccer has announced the full calendar of offseason roster building events, highlighted by the 2018 MLS Expansion Draft on Tuesday, Dec. 11. FC Cincinnati begin MLS play in 2019 as a club in the Eastern Conference, and through the Expansion Draft will select five current MLS players to help shape the core of their inaugural roster. Current MLS teams that had players selected by LAFC in the 2017 MLS Expansion Draft, including Sporting KC, will be exempt from the 2018 MLS Expansion Draft.
8. Barry’s Breakthrough
Swope Park Rangers forward Hadji Barry will join the Guinea Men’s National Team for the first time in his career after being selected by head coach Paul Put for an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Ivory Coast on Sunday at Stade 28 Septembre in the Guinean capital of Conarky.
Barry, 25, was named to the USL All-League Second Team last week after a career year in which he led SPR in scoring with 19 goals this season, fourth most in the USL and a new single-season club record. The Swope Park Rangers Team MVP, Barry also finished second on the SPR squad with five assists and 45 chances created in 2018.
9. Atlanta Advances
Atlanta United FC booked their place in the Eastern Conference Championship with a 3-1 second-leg victory over New York City FC on Sunday, claiming a 4-1 aggregate win to set up a mouthwatering series with the New York Red Bulls. Josef Martinez struck twice and Miguel Almiron added a third as Atlanta flexed its star power at jam-packed Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
10. Red Bulls Roar Back
The New York Red Bulls advanced to the Eastern Conference Semifinals after defeating Columbus Crew SC 3-0 at Red Bull Arena on Sunday, winning the series 3-1 on aggregate. The result means New York will now face face Atlanta United FC, the team they edged for the 2018 Supporters' Shield, in the conference finals later this month. Alex Muyl scored early before Daniel Royer bagged a second-half brace to seal the comeback.
11. Bracket Madness
The 2018 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship bracket was unveiled today with 48 teams aiming for a berth in this year's College Cup from Dec. 7-9 at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Among the field are nine Sporting Kansas City Academy products representing six different schools.
