Starting XI: Russell and Bustle

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.

Sporting KC clawed back for a 2-2 draw at home against Toronto FC on Saturday night with goals from Ilie Sanchez and Johnny Russell. Toronto struck first in the 25th minute, but Sporting KC leveled the match as Ilie buried a penalty in the 57th minute. Johnny Russell then answered four minutes later to tally his 100th professional goal. Toronto responded in the 69th minute to level the match at 2-2. Saturday’s draw moves Sporting KC to third place in the Western Conference with 33 points, just one point behind LAFC and two points behind conference leader FC Dallas.

2. Russell and Bustle

Scottish forward Johnny Russell has made a major impact since joining Sporting KC in early February. The 28-year-old opened his MLS scoring account with a goal against the Chicago Fire on March 10 and tallied a hat-trick against Vancouver Whitecaps FC on April 20. And Saturday night, he recorded his seventh goal of the season against Toronto FC as well as the 100th goal of his professional career. Russell scored a combined 93 goals with Derby County, Dundee United, Forfar Athletic and Raith Rovers from 2007-2018.

3. The Century Mark

On Saturday night, goalkeeper Tim Melia and defender Ike Opara both made their 100th MLS regular-season appearances for Sporting KC in front of a sold-out Children’s Mercy Park. Melia and Opara are two of four nominees for Best MLS Player at the 2018 ESPYS, which will air July 18 on ABC. ESPY award fan voting is now underway, and all categories will close when the live show starts at 7 p.m. CT on July 18 at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.

4. Anything But

Sporting KC forward Daniel Salloi has emerged as one of the top scorers for Sporting KC this season with seven goals and six assists in all competitions. A former Sporting Academy product, the 21-year-old says he has learned a lot of his skill from his father. We caught up with Salloi to talk anything but soccer, seeing how he spends his free time, where he likes to eat, and how growing up in Hungary has shaped him into the person he is today.

5. Red Bull Reckoning

Sporting KC hits the road this week as they face the New York Red Bulls (10-4-2, 32 points) next Saturday. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. CT on FOX Sports Kansas City and FOX Sports Midwest Plus as Manager Peter Vermes' men visit one of the best sides in the Eastern Conference. The squad will add Roger Espinosa and Daniel Salloi back to the lineup as they had been suspended due to red cards given in last week’s match against Real Salt Lake.

6. Home on the Rangers

The Swope Park Rangers will compete at Children’s Mercy Park tomorrow night against Sacramento Republic FC, looking to add three points to their resume in the Western Conference battle. Sacramento is coming off of two losses and two draws, while SPR will aim for their fifth win in six games. Tickets for the match, set to kick off at 7:30 p.m. CT, can be purchased on SeatGeek.com.

7. Duke's Delight

Sporting KC Academy U-17 midfielder Cameron Duke has received Central Conference Player of the Year honors for the 2017-18 U.S. Soccer Development Academy season. Duke scored four goals in 19 league games while leading the Sporting KC U-17s to a third-place finish in the Central Conference's Frontier Division and a berth in the Development Academy Playoffs. The 17-year-old also earns Central Conference Best XI accolades for the second straight season, having done so at the U-16 level a year ago.

8. Open the Window

Major League Soccer's secondary transfer window, the second of two periods on the calendar in which teams can register new players via international transfers or intra-league trades, will officially open on Tuesday. The secondary transfer window, which runs through Aug. 8, will be the last chance for MLS teams to complete incoming transfers and trades for the 2018 season. The primary transfer window was open from February 7 to May 1.

9. No Other Watch Parties

No Other Pub in the Kansas City Power & Light District continues to serve as Sporting KC’s World Cup Headquarters, hosting World Cup watch parties featuring Belgium vs. France at 1 p.m. Tuesday and Croatia vs. England at 1 p.m. CT Wednesday. No Other Pub will also host a watch party for Sunday's World Cup Final, set to kick off at 10 a.m. CT.

10. Day of Giving

On Friday, Scooter's Coffee will celebrate the grand opening of its new cafe in Independence, Missouri (2300 S. Missouri 291 Hwy) with a a Day of Giving, donating 100 percent of the location's proceeds to The Victory Project. The occasion will include an appearance from a Sporting KC player from 3-4:30 p.m. CT with photo and autograph opportunities. The Day of Giving is part of a season-long collaboration in which Scooter’s Coffee raises money and awareness for The Victory Project, the philanthropic arm of Sporting KC that unites players, staff and fans to help children fighting cancer and other serious illnesses.

11. King of the Court

Sporting KC will host a King of the Court futsal tournament on Saturday at Town Center Plaza in Leawood, Kansas (5000 W 119th 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 (July 10-11, 2018)