Starting XI: Seventh Heaven

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.

Sporting KC rolled to a 7-0 victory over Phoenix Rising FC Trialists on Wednesday in Tempe, Arizona, taking another solid step forward during the 2019 preseason, presented by Children’s Mercy. Krisztian Nemeth and Kelyn Rowe scored early before Daniel Salloi and Seth Sinovic pushed the lead to 4-0. Sporting KC Academy products made their mark late as Wilson Harris struck twice and Tyler Freeman bagged a seventh to seal the triumph.

2. Young Bucks

For the second time in five days, a slew of Sporting KC Academy products featured prominently in a convincing win for the first team. Wednesday’s 7-0 win saw 10 Academy players past and present take the field, equaling the total from last Friday’s 4-0 triumph against Sporting Arizona FC. The youthful Academy contingent—all 10 players are under 23—was especially prolific on Wednesday, accounting for four goals and two assists at Phoenix Rising FC Soccer Complex.

3. Go for Gold

Tickets for the 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup doubleheader featuring the United States Men’s National Team on June 26 at Children’s Mercy Park will go on sale to the general public Friday at 10 a.m. CT via SeatGeek.com. In addition, Sporting KC Season Ticket Members now have access to an exclusive presale for the doubleheader and can contact their membership services representative for more information.

Children’s Mercy Park is set to host the final two matches of the 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup group stage, with the United States among the four teams in Group D taking the field on June 26. The Gold Cup schedule and complete group assignments will be announced this spring when the tournament’s 16-team field is finalized.

4. Warehouse Sale

Sporting fans of all ages are welcome to attend the grand re-opening of the SportingStyle Pop-In Store this Saturday at Children's Mercy Park. To kick off the 2019 season in style, the SportingStyle Warehouse Sale is offering 25 percent off full-priced items and up to 50 percent off sale items. Select jerseys will also be marked at $19.97 and lower. The Warehouse Sale will run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. CT at the Budweiser Brew House inside Children's Mercy Park. Parking is available on Village West Parkway just outside the Budweiser Brew House entrance and in Lot D.

5. Futsal Phenoms

The Sporting Kansas City Academy U-13s and U-14s were crowned US Youth Futsal Central Regional champions last weekend after sweeping through the competition at multiple venues throughout Johnson County, Kansas. The regional titles propel both teams into the 2019 US Youth Futsal National Championships, which will take place Feb. 15-18 in venues across the Kansas City area. The national tournament will feature the best futsal teams in the United States at the U-9 through U-19 boys and girls levels.

6. Tracking Toluca

In a mouthwatering clash featuring two of the best teams in Liga MX, Deportivo Toluca FC slipped to their first defeat of the Clausura campaign against reigning Concacaf Champions League winners Chivas Guadalajara on Sunday at Estadio Akron. Toluca, Sporting KC’s opponent in the Concacaf Champions League Round of 16 next month, will return to the friendly confines of Estadio Nemesio Diez this Sunday to host heavyweight and fellow Champions League contender Tigres UANL. The match is slated for noon CT and will be televised live on Univision.

7. Game On

Macissé Diop made his debut as Sporting’s eMLS gamer on Tuesday at eMLS League Series One presented by PlayStation, taking place at the Esports Arena in Santa Ana, California. The 21-year-old Diop, who was unveiled as Sporting’s eMLS player last month, put his FIFA prowess to the test in a tournament featuring 22 professional gamers, each representing an MLS club. Diop fell short of the knockout stage, but not before tasting success in the regular-season portion of the event.

8. Rich Get Richer

After months of speculation, Atlanta United FC finally made it official on today by announcing the acquisition of star playmaker Gonzalo “Pity” Martinez from Argentine powerhouse River Plate. Recently crowned the 2018 South American Footballer of the Year, Martinez will join the Five Stripes as a Designated Player.

9. LD is Back

Landon Donovan is set to come out of retirement for a third time. The all-time leader in goals and assists for both Major League Soccer and the U.S. Men’s National Team will join the San Diego Sockers of the Major Arena Soccer League, according to Sports Illustrated's Grant Wahl. The 36-year-old Donovan first retired in late 2014 before rejoining the Galaxy at the end of the 2016 season. He hung up the boots again but was ultimately enticed to return to the game by Club Leon in Liga MX in 2018.

10. Inside Pediatrics

The world-class Pinnacle National Development Center was featured this month in a webisode of Inside Pediatrics, an Emmy Award-winning documentary by Children’s Mercy Kansas City. The Inside Pediatrics segment tells the story of 15-year-old Mary, who suffers a knee injury that threatens her tennis career. Mary’s journey to full recovery involves extensive rehab at Children’s Mercy Sports Medicine Center at Village West, where she even gets the opportunity to work out alongside Sporting KC defender Jaylin Lindsey.

11. Snap ‘Em Up

Single-game tickets to Sporting’s first eight MLS home matches of 2019 — beginning with Fan Appreciation Day against the Philadelphia Union on March 10 and ending with a marquee matchup versus Zlatan Ibrahimovic and the LA Galaxy on May 29 — are now on sale at SeatGeek.com. In addition, limited quantities of full-season ticket packages remain available for supporters looking to catch every moment of the action at world-class Children’s Mercy Park.

Games to Watch (Jan. 25-27, 2019)