Starting XI: Orange Crush

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.

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1. Orange Crush

Sporting Kansas City continues their MLS regular season home stretch of games this Saturday, hosting rivals Houston Dynamo at 7:30 p.m. CT. This will be the 28th time the two teams have met in all competitions since 2011, with both teams holding an identical 9-9-9 record during that time. Sporting KC looks to stay at the top of the table in the Western Conference with a win. A limited number of tickets for the game, including standing-room only tickets, can be purchased on SeatGeek.com.

2. Houston Awaits Again

After a thrilling 3-2 victory for Sporting Kansas City against FC Dallas in the U.S. Open Cup, the squad has advanced to the quarterfinal round. For the fourth straight year, reigning champion Sporting KC will face the Houston Dynamo in the tournament. After the Dynamo defeated Minnesota united FC in the Round of 16 on Monday, the two clubs will meet in Houston and battle in the Open Cup for the fourth straight year. The quarterfinal is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. CT on July 18 at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston.

3. Studs Up for ESPYS

On Monday, Tim Melia and Ike Opara were announced as nominees for the 2018 ESPYS, set to take place in L.A.’s Microsoft Theatre on July 18. The ESPYS is an evening that celebrates major sports achievements, relives unforgettable moments and salutes the leading performers and performances of the past year in sports. Melia and Opara are two of four stars in the running for Best MLS Player, along with Chicago Fire’s Nemanja Nikolic and the Portland Timbers’ Diego Valeri. The winners are selected by fan voting, which is now live at ESPYS.com, and the poll will be open until the start of the ESPYS at 7 p.m. CT on July 18.

4. Rangers Return

The Swope Park Rangers will continue USL play at home this weekend against the Las Vegas Lights FC, kicking off at 4 p.m. CT on Sunday at Children's Mercy Park. After defeating the Real Monarchs last Wednesday and falling to Fresno FC on Sunday, the Rangers look to add three points to their resume against a USL expansion side. Tickets can be purchased on SeatGeek.com or at the stadium box office on gameday, and the match will stream live on ESPN+.

5. Matchday Clinic

The Swope Park Rangers will host a youth matchday clinic for players ages 6-12 following their match against the Las Vegas Lights FC on Sunday, with programming running until 7:30 p.m. CT at Children’s Mercy Park. Registration is now open, and the clinic includes two general admission tickets to Sunday's game, a one-hour postgame clinic on the field, pictures and autographs with SPR players and other opportunities for those who sign up early. For more details, contact Jon Valentine at jvalentine@sportingkc.com or at 816-949-1190.

6. Saravia Departs

The Swope Park Rangers announced on Wednesday that the club has agreed to transfer midfielder Rodrigo Saravia to Communicaciones F.C. in Guatemala. Saravia, 25, appeared in 11 games for the Rangers this season and had two goals and two assists, after joining the team in 2017. A Guatemala native, Saravia has earned six caps for the Guatemalan National Team, and will now play in Guatemala’s domestic league for the first time in his professional career. The Rangers will continue their back-to-back Western Conference run this Sunday as they host Las Vegas Lights FC.

7. Academy Update

The Sporting KC Academy U-17s and U-19s have kicked off the 2018 U.S. Soccer Development Academy Playoffs at SoCal Sports Complex in Oceanside, California. The U-17s started group stage action with a bang on Tuesday, defeating Patedores FC by a 4-2 scoreline behind Jahon Rad's hat-trick. The U-19s opened with a 1-1 draw against Columbus Crew SC on Monday before falling 2-1 to the top-ranked New York Red Bulls on Wednesday. Follow the Sporting KC Academy on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat (skcacademy) for updates throughout the playoffs and for all the latest information on the club's youth development teams.

8. Onto Regionals

With the Sporting KC Academy teams in full swing this weekend, the U-14s will begin their quest to win the 2018 US Youth Soccer Midwest Regional Championships. Group play unfolds Friday, Saturday and Sunday with the semifinals and finals set for June 26-27 in Westfield, Indiana.

9. Free Pickup Soccer

Sporting Fields + Athletics is offering free pickup soccer tonight from 6-8 p.m. CT at Wyandotte Sporting Fields for players age 18 and up. The open summer league will feature 5-v-5 games on five separate Thursdays throughout June and July, taking place on Field 6 at Wyandotte Sporting Fields (1500 N. 19th St., Kansas City, KS). For more information, visit SportingAthletics.com.

10. Scooters Day of Giving

Scooter's Coffee will host a Day of Giving this week for The Victory Project, an initiative from Sporting KC that unites players, staff and fans to help children battling cancer. On Friday, Kansas City area Scooter’s Coffee locations will donate 20 percent of proceeds to the foundation to help further its mission.

11. King of the Court

Sporting KC will host its second King of the Court futsal tournament on Saturday at Edwardsville Park in Edwardsville, Kansas (1200 Blake St.), consisting of 5-v-5 matches for age groups 8-12 and 13-18. The event will run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. CT, featuring a block party complete with music, yard games, skills challenges, food trucks, music DJs and more. Tournament registration is free for all teams and now open at SportingKC.com/kingofthecourt.

Games to Watch (June 22-24, 2018)