Starting XI: Prepare for Battle

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.

Less than a week remains until top-seeded Sporting KC and the No. 5 seed Portland Timbers lock horns in the Western Conference Championship of the Audi 2018 MLS Cup Playoffs. Sporting KC will visit Portland in the first leg of the aggregate-goal series on Sunday at Providence Park. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. CT on FS1, FOX Deportes, Sports Radio 810 WHB and ESPN Deportes KC 1480 AM.

Manager Peter Vermes' men will then host the decisive second leg next Thursday, Nov. 29, at 8:30 p.m. CT. ESPN and ESPN Deportes will televise the showdown live from Children's Mercy Park.

Tickets for the second leg of the Western Conference Championship, Sporting KC's final home game of 2018, 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.

2. No Other Party

All Sporting KC supporters are invited to the official watch party for Sunday's first leg at No Other Pub in the Kansas City Power & Light District (1370 Grand Blvd.). Watch party programming will begin at 6 p.m. CT, featuring an all-you-can eat buffet with burgers, wings, cheese curds and more, plus a long list of drink specials headlined by $6 Till Vodka cocktails available until the final whistle.

3. Johnny on the Spot

Sporting KC forward Johnny Russell and the Scotland Men’s National Team earned a crucial 4-0 road win over Albania in the UEFA Nations League on Saturday at Loro Borici Stadium in Shkoder. Russell entered as a 73rd-minute substitute with the visitors leading by four goals and helped Scotland close out a comfortable victory.

Russell and Scotland can finish atop Group 1 of UEFA Nations League C when they host Israel at 1:45 p.m. CT Tuesday at Hampden Park in Glasgow. The match will stream live on ESPN+ as Scotland looks to secure promotion to League B of the 2020-21 UEFA Nations League with a win.

4. On the Brink

Sporting KC defender Jaylin Lindsey and the United States U-20 Men’s National Team will play for a spot in the 2018 Concacaf U-20 Championship Final when they face Honduras tonight at 7 p.m. CT at IMG Academy Stadium in Bradenton, Florida. The USA U-20s, who defeated Costa Rica 4-0 on Friday to punch their ticket to the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup, can advance to Wednesday’s tournament championship with a win over Honduras.

5. Barry’s Debut

Swope Park Rangers forward Hadji Barry earned his senior international debut on Sunday, helping Guinea qualify for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations with a 1-1 draw against Ivory Coast at Stade du 28 Septembre in the Guinean capital of Conakry.

Barry entered as an 86th-minute substitute after Guinea’s Mohamed Yattara and Ivory Coast’s Jean Michael Seri traded first-half goals. The result ensures that Guinea will finish first and Ivory Coast will finish second in Group H of Africa Cup of Nations qualifying, therefore sending both teams to next summer’s biennial tournament.

6. Kitman Sale

All Sporting KC fans are invited to the highly anticipated Kitman Sale next Friday, Nov. 23, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. CT at the SportingStyle Pop-In Store inside Children's Mercy Park. A wide variety of authentic, autographed and game-worn merchandise will be available for purchase, including player jerseys, cleats and game balls that were used throughout the 2018 season.

7. All-Americans

Sporting KC Academy standouts Cameron Duke and Tyler Freeman were named United Soccer Coaches Youth All-Americans on Thursday. Duke and Freeman were among the 94 total players—47 boys and 47 girls—to receive United Soccer Coaches Youth All-American accolades. The duo will be formally recognized for their accomplishments alongside other honorees at the United Soccer Coaches All-America Ceremony & Reception on Jan. 12, 2019, at the McCormick Place West Building in conjunction with the 2019 United Soccer Coaches Convention in Chicago.

8. Copa Rayados

The Sporting KC Academy U-13s, U-14s and U-15s will spend Thanksgiving weekend competing against premier teams from across the U.S. and Mexico at the 2018 Copa Rayados Internacional in The Woodlands, Texas. The sixth annual Copa Rayados will see all three Sporting KC Academy sides play group stage matches on Wednesday and Thursday with hopes of qualifying for the semifinal and final rounds on Saturday and Sunday. Follow @SKCAcademy on Twitter for live updates this week and throughout the 2018-19 Academy season.

9. Yanks Abroad

The United States Men’s National Team will take the field for the final time in 2018 when they battle Italy on Tuesday at Luminus Arena in Genk, Belgium. Kickoff is set for 1:45 p.m. CT on FS1 and UniMas. The Americans will look to end the year on a winning note after taking a 3-0 friendly defeat to England last Thursday at Wembley Stadium in Wayne Rooney’s testimonial.

10. Three’s Company

Three nations have advanced to the semifinals of the inaugural UEFA Nations League during November’s international break. England, Portugal and Switzerland each sealed first place in their respective groups in UEFA Nations League A to secure berths in the UEFA Nations League Finals, scheduled to take place on June 5 and 9 of next year in Portugal. The trio will be joined by either France or the Netherlands, the latter of which must draw or defeat Germany today in order to advance.

11. Know Your History

With less than a week remaining until the conference finals unfold, Sporting KC supporters have plenty of time to take a deep breath before the proverbial plunge. In the buildup to the matches, SportingKC.com has whipped up a history lesson of Kansas City’s past performances in conference championships.

Games to Watch (Nov. 19-21, 2018)