Starting XI: A Very Happy Thanksgiving

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.

With November's international break in the rearview mirror, top-seeded Sporting KC and the No. 5 seed Portland Timbers will square off 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. Kitman Sale

All Sporting KC fans are invited to the highly anticipated Kitman Sale this Friday 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.

4. Russell Returns

Forward Johnny Russell is set for a return to Sporting KC after helping the Scotland Men’s National Team earn promotion to League B of the 2020-21 UEFA Nations League. Russell played 17 minutes in Scotland’s 4-0 win at Albania on Saturday and was an unused substitute Tuesday as Scotland defeated Israel 3-2 to clinch first place in Group 1 of UEFA Nations League C.

Saturday marked Russell’s ninth senior appearance for Scotland and his fifth since joining Sporting KC at the start of 2018. The 28-year-old has enjoyed a brilliant first season in Kansas City, amassing 12 goals and 13 assists across all competitions. He has become the fourth player in club history to record double-digit goals and assists in a single MLS season and was named the club's Offensive Player of the Year last month.

5. Jubilant Jaylin

The U.S. Under-20 Men's National Team earned an impressive 2-0 win against Mexico on Wednesday night in Bradenton, Florida, to secure their second straight Concacaf U-20 Championship title. Sporting KC defender Jaylin Lindsey was part of the team that went a perfect 8-0-0 from Nov. 1-21, punching their ticket to the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup in addition to ousting their regional rivals for the Concacaf crown. Lindsey started in three of the group stage victories as the Americans outscored their opponents 45-2 over the course of eight games.

6. Super Sunday

The biggest matches call for the brightest lights, thus propelling Major League Soccer onto the national stage this Sunday when a pair of conference championship first legs air live across the country.

The action begins at 4 p.m. CT on ESPN, WatchESPN and ESPN Deportes when Supporters' Shield winner New York Red Bulls visit star-studded Atlanta United FC in the Eastern Conference Championship at cavernous Mercedes-Benz Stadium, pitting the two most dominant teams during the 2018 regular season. The evening nightcap will feature the Western Conference Championship tilt between Sporting KC and Portland, airing live at 6:30 p.m. CT on FS1, FOX Sports GO and FOX Deportes as well as Sports Radio 810 WHB and ESPN Deportes KC 1480 AM.

7. Save the Date

Concacaf announced on Tuesday the date and procedures for the official draw of the 2019 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League. The official draw will be conducted on Monday, Dec. 3, at 6 p.m. CT, live from the Univision Deportes Studios in Miami.

The 11th edition of the region’s premier club championship will feature representatives from nine Concacaf Member Associations. Sporting KC is one of five MLS clubs set to participate in the annual competition, having qualified for the tournament as the 2017 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup champion.

8. Class in Session

The Sporting KC Academy U-13s, U-14s and U-15s are currently 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 this week with hopes of qualifying for the semifinal and final rounds on Saturday and Sunday. Follow @SKCAcademy on Twitter for live updates.

9. Defeat at the Death

Fielding the youngest lineup in the country's modern era, the U.S. Men's National Team conceded in second-half stoppage time to fall 1-0 to Italy on Tuesday in Genk, Belgium. Interim head coach Dave Sarachan deployed a starting 11 with an average age of 22 years and 71 days as the Americans played their final match of the 2018 calendar year.

10. Gamers Rejoice

Major League Soccer and EA SPORTS announced this week an expanded eMLS, poised to grow the fan connection to MLS through FIFA competition. The 2019 eMLS season features 22 MLS clubs integrated into the competitive ecosystem, with Atlanta United, D.C. United and FC Cincinnati joining the competition for the first time, as players compete to represent their club at the 2019 eMLS Cup presented by PlayStation® from Sony Interactive Entertainment, having PlayStation®4 as the official console.

11. History Lesson

With just three days remaining until the conference finals begin, Sporting KC supporters have just enough time to brush up on their history. In the buildup to the matches, SportingKC.com has whipped up a recap of Kansas City’s past performances in conference championships.

Games to Watch (Nov. 23-25, 2018)