Starting XI: Time for Toronto

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 suffered a 4-2 loss at Real Salt Lake on Wednesday night in a match that opened with Daniel Salloi scoring his team-leading sixth goal of the season. Ike Opara also sent one to the back of the net to bring Sporting KC back within one goal in the second half.

Sporting KC was reduced to nine men after Salloi and Roger Espinoza were issued red cards within five minutes of each other. Sporting KC’s 12-match unbeaten streak versus Western Conference opponents in all competitions is now snapped.

2. Climbing the Charts

Graham Zusi made his 274th appearance for Sporting KC in all competitions last night against Real Salt Lake. Zusi is now in sole possession of third place in club history behind current teammate Matt Besler (287) and current Sporting KC assistant Kerry Zavagnin (291).

3. Time for Toronto

After a loss to Real Salt Lake, Sporting KC now returns home for a highly anticipated battle with reigning MLS Cup and Supporters' Shield champion Toronto FC on Saturday at Children's Mercy Park. The cross-conference clash will kick off at 7:30 p.m. CT and will be followed by a postgame fireworks show. A limited number of tickets remain available via SeatGeek.com.

4. Battle in Seattle

Tonight the Swope Park Rangers face off against Seattle Sounders FC 2 in a USL Western Conference clash, kicking off at 9 p.m. CT at Cheney Stadium in Tacoma, Washington. The Rangers (8-4-4, 28 points) will battle against the Sounders (3-8-2, 11 points) as they kick off an important stretch of five games in 18 days. The Rangers have won all five previous meetings against Sounders FC 2, including a 4-2 victory in the club’s home opener this March. Tonight’s match will be streamed live on ESPN+ and in-game updates will also be available via the USLsoccer.com Match Center.

5. Rangers Sign Wilson Harris

The Swope Park Rangers have signed 18-year-old forward Wilson Harris to a full USL contract, the club announced on Tuesday. Harris, a product of the Sporting KC Academy, has made six USL appearances since joining the Rangers on an Academy contract in March.

6. Standings Shuffle

This is the first time since March that Sporting KC is not in first place in the Western Conference standings. After a tough loss to Real Salt Lake, Sporting KC has some points to make up this weekend as they face reigning MLS Cup champion Toronto FC at home on Saturday night. FC Dallas came back to beat Atlanta 3-2 last night, earning the top spot in the West with 35 points. LAFC and Houston tied Tuesday night to keep LAFC at 31 points, one point behind Sporting KC.

7. And Then There Were Eight

The 2018 FIFA World Cup has reached the stretch run. Just eight games remain in Russia as the tournament reaches the quarterfinal stage on Friday. Uruguay take on France in the first of the quarterfinals on Friday, followed by Brazil against Belgium. Semifinal matches will take place next Tuesday and Wednesday, with the World Cup Final set for Sunday, July 15.

8. No Place Like It

No Other Pub in the Kansas City Power & Light District continues to serve as Sporting KC’s World Cup Headquarters. No Other Pub will host watch parties for all remaining World Cup matches, including Friday's quarterfinal matches featuring France vs. Uruguay at 9 a.m. and Brazil vs. Belgium at 1 p.m. Sweden and England will square off Saturday at 9 a.m., followed by Russia vs. Croatia at 1 p.m. Click here for more information about food and drink specials at No Other Pub.

9. Fly Away

Fans can enter the National Soccer Hall of Fame Fly Away Sweepstakes for the chance to win the following prize package, provided in partnership with the National Soccer Hall of Fame and Visit Frisco. The trip will take place in conjunction with Sporting KC's road match at FC Dallas on Oct. 21.

• One three-night stay for two at Omni Frisco (Oct. 19-22, 2018)
• Roundtrip airfare for two
• Two tickets to the National Soccer Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Saturday, Oct. 20
• Two tickets to the Imagine Dragons concert on Saturday, Oct. 20
• Two tickets to the Sporting KC vs. FC Dallas match on Sunday, Oct. 21
• $100 to the British Lion Pub and $100 to City Works at The Star

10. Court Kings

Sporting KC will host a King of the Court futsal tournament on Saturday at Wyandotte High School in Kansas City, Kansas (2501 Minnesota Ave.), 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.

11. Young Studs at Swope

Swope Soccer Village in Kansas City, Missouri, will host the 2017-18 U.S. Soccer Development Academy Championships from Sunday through Wednesday. A total of 16 matches will be played at Swope Soccer Village with 16 teams vying for national titles as four Development Academy championship matches for the 2017-18 season take place in Kansas City for the first time. Sunday’s action begins at 11:30 a.m. CT with the first of four boys’ semifinal matchups at the U-17 and U-19 levels. Click here for more information.

Games to Watch (July 6-7, 2018)