Starting XI: Miffed in Minnesota

Starting XI, presented by Ford, 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.

Four days after moving to the top of the Western Conference with a 2-0 win over the New York Red Bulls, Sporting Kansas City (5-2-3, 18 points) slipped back down to second place Sunday after falling 2-0 to Minnesota United FC (3-5-2, 11 points) at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. It was the first time in 13 MLS matches that Peter Vermes’ men had conceded more than once — a result further soured by Dom Dwyer’s yellow card in the second half. The forward will now serve a one-game suspension and miss Sporting KC’s road test at Orlando City SC on Saturday night.

2. Lions’ Den

Orlando City SC (6-3-0, 18 points) is a perfect 5-0-0 in the new Orlando City Stadium, where they will host Sporting Kansas City on Saturday evening. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. CT on FOX Sports Kansas City Plus and FOX Sports Midwest, with a live stream on FOX Sports GO available to all pay-TV subscribers who receive FOX Sports Kansas City or FOX Sports Midwest in their cable package. Listeners can also follow the action on ESPN 99.3 (English) and La Grande 1340 AM (Spanish) and receive live updates via the Sporting KC Uphoria app. The Lions are led by Brazilian World Cup winner Kaka and third-year forward Cyle Larin, who is tied for third in MLS with six goals.

3. Swope Smash

The Swope Park Rangers strolled to their ninth consecutive home victory after dispatching Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 by a 3-0 scoreline on Friday at Children’s Mercy Victory Field. A first-half blitz saw Nansel Selbol, Lebo Moloto and Kharlton Belmar find the back of the net as the Rangers moved to 4-0-0 at home this season and 4-2-0 overall. SPR will now seek their first away victory of 2017 when they visit Rio Grande Valley FC (3-3-0, 9 points) at 7:30 p.m. CT Saturday. The Western Conference match will stream live on SportingKC.com.

4. Bittersweet Symphony

Two days after punching their ticket to the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup, Sporting KC Academy defender Jaylin Lindsey and the U.S. U-17 Men’s National Team played Mexico to a 1-1 tie before falling 5-4 on penalty kicks in the final of the 2017 CONCACAF U-17 Championship on Sunday at Estadio Rommel Fernandez. Lindsey started five of the six matches in Panama as the U.S. finished the tournament with a 5-0-1 record and progressed to the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup, set for Oct. 6-28 in India.

5. A Draw Will Do

The Sporting Kansas City Academy U-18s took another step toward qualifying for the 2017 U.S. Soccer Development Academy Playoffs on Saturday, battling the Houston Dynamo to a 3-3 draw at sunny Swope Soccer Village. The result keeps Sporting KC in third place in the Frontier Division standings with three league matches still to play, and the top three finishers will qualify automatically for the playoffs in June. The same postseason qualifying format applies for the Sporting KC U-16s, who remained in second place despite falling 3-1 to Houston in the second game of Saturday’s doubleheader.

6. Deadline Day

Major League Soccer’s 2017 Primary Transfer Window will close tonight at midnight ET, meaning that MLS clubs will then have to wait until July to sign players under contract in another country or make any MLS trades involving players. The Secondary Transfer Window for MLS opens on July 10 and runs through Aug. 9.

Click here for MLSsoccer.com’s transfer updates as they materialize over the course of the evening. Rumors have swirled around several clubs, with New England making the biggest splash so far having welcomed back midfielder Gershon Koffie from Swedish side Hammarby IF.

7. Fresh Prince

It was one heck of a week for former Sporting KC forward C.J. Sapong. A day after starring in a brilliant spoof of The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, the newly dubbed Fresh Prince of Chest-air bagged his first career MLS hat-trick to give the Philadelphia Union a 3-0 win over the New York Red Bulls. Sapong’s treble helped Philly earn their first victory of 2017, though the Union remain dead-last in the Eastern Conference with seven points through nine games.

8. Week 10 Rewind

Week 10 in MLS included more than a few eye-opening results. Portland and Orlando City were thrashed, LA Galaxy dropped more points at home, and get this: all three Canadian teams won away from home. MLSsoccer.com’s Matthew Doyle offered his take on the week that was — notably lauding Minnesota’s improvement over the past month — while Susannah Collins and Calen Carr touched on the biggest talking points from across the league.

9. One Foot Through the Door

The finals for the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League aren’t set in stone just yet, but four teams are comfortably positioned heading into this week’s decisive semifinal second legs. Real Madrid used a Cristano Ronaldo hat-trick to defeat cross-city rival Atletico Madrid last Tuesday and will look to protect the lead Wednesday in Atletico’s home venue. Juventus earned a 2-0 away win against Monaco and can finish the job in Italy on Tuesday. In the Europa League, Manchester United carries a 1-0 lead over Celta Vigo into Thursday’s home fixture, while Ajax hits the road with a 4-1 advantage over Lyon. The Champions League Final will be played June 3, while the Europa League Final will take place May 24.

10. Patio Goals

Sporting Kansas City is teaming up with Westlake Ace Hardware in May for the All-Star Patio Sweepstakes. One entrant will win Sporting KC merchandise, tickets to an upcoming match and a variety of patio essentials. Fans can enter the sweepstakes and learn more at SportingKC.com/westlakepatio.

11. Where All the Good People Go

Sporting KC and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City are teaming up in 2017 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 up to three guests will receive a behind the scenes VIP experience, four tickets to the game, a parking pass and a $50 gift card redeemable for Sporting KC merchandise. Supporters can nominate members of their community to be the next Blue KC Sporting Samaritan at SportingKC.com/bluekc.

Games to Watch (May 9-11)