Starting XI: Wizzed on the Fire

Starting XI, presented by Ford, 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 Kansas City used a 3-2 victory over the Chicago Fire on Saturday night at sold-out Children’s Mercy Park to jump back into first place in Major League Soccer's Western Conference. Daniel Salloi and Benny Feilhaber scored first-half goals and Latif Blessing struck shortly after the restart as Sporting KC (9-4-9, 36 points) pushed its club-record home unbeaten streak to 20 regular season matches — the sixth-longest run in MLS history — at the expense of a Chicago side (11-5-5, 38 points) that fielded four MLS All-Stars.

The impressive display showcased Sporting KC's diverse arsenal of attacking options and saw Graham Zusi deliver a standout performance from the right back position. The victory also saw Manager Peter Vermes continue to climb the charts as one of the league's all-time winningest coaches.

2. Sporting Salutes

Sporting Kansas City continues its three-game homestand Sunday when MLS expansion side Atlanta United FC (10-7-4, 34 points) visits Children's Mercy Park for a 7 p.m. CT kickoff on FS1, FOX Deportes, Sports Radio 810 WHB (English) and La Grande 1340 AM (Spanish). Tickets for the nationally televised interconference matchup are available at SeatGeek.com as Sporting KC hosts Sporting Salutes, a military appreciation night for servicemen and women across the country. In addition, the first 5,000 fans through the stadium gates on Sunday will receive a camouflage cooler courtesy of match sponsor Dairy Farmers of America.

Guided by MLS All-Star Miguel Almiron (eight goals, nine assists), elite playmaker Hector Villalba (10 goals, four assists) and famous Argentine coach Gerardo "Tata" Martino, Atlanta United FC has enjoyed a strong first season in MLS. The clubs leads the league with 41 goals and currently occupies fifth place in the Eastern Conference. Sporting Kansas City, meanwhile, hasn't lost in 20 straight regular season home games and boasts a 10-0-4 record in all competitions this season at Children's Mercy Park.

3. Star Power

Sporting Kansas City right back Graham Zusi has linked up with Major League Soccer’s best players to square off with Spanish giant Real Madrid in the 2017 MLS All-Star Game presented by Target. The summer showcase at Soldier Field in Chicago will kick off Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. CT on FS1 and UniMas. Zusi has earned MLS All-Star recognition for the fifth time in his career, having previously received All-Star accolades every year from 2012-2015.

MLS All-Star Week includes Wednesday's main event plus blockbuster concerts, the Men in Blazers All-Star Extravaganza presented by Etihad, live events and beach tournaments on the shores of Lake Michigan, showcasing the best of North America’s blossoming soccer culture.

4. Homegrown Gamer

Sporting Kansas City defender Erik Palmer-Brown has been added to the MLS Homegrown Team roster ahead of Tuesday’s MLS Homegrown Game presented by Energizer. Coached by MLS legend Brian McBride, Palmer-Brown and the Homegrown Team will face the Chivas de Guadalajara U-20s at 7 p.m. CT at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Illinois, as part of the events leading up to the 2017 MLS All-Star Game on Wednesday inside Chicago's Soldier Field. The MLS Homegrown Game will stream live in English on the Univision Deportes Facebook Page with a Spanish telecast on UDN.

The MLS Homegrown Game was founded in 2014 with the intent of featuring the best Homegrown Players throughout the league. Palmer-Brown, 20, will join the likes of Alphonso Davies (Vancouver Whitecaps FC), Jesse Gonzalez (FC Dallas) and Justen Glad (Real Salt Lake) for the summer showdown, having previously featured in the Homegrown Game in 2015 when he started and played 71 minutes in a 1-1 draw against the Club America U-20s.

5. Tim Terrific

Sporting Kansas City emerged victorious on Saturday against the Chicago Fire, but the outcome may have been different if not for some timely heroics between the posts from Tim Melia. The goalkeeper is up for MLS Save of the Week for his leaping stop to deny a header from Nemanja Nikolic in the 85th minute of Saturday's contest when Sporting KC was protecting a 3-2 lead. Supporters can click here to vote for MLS Save of the Week through Wednesday night.

6. Let's Play Flip Cup

Sporting KC welcomes all supporters to join the club on Friday for a First Fridays Block Party in the Crossroads near downtown Kansas City. The event will run from 6-10 p.m. CT, including free drinks, music, yard games and Sporting KC player appearances as part of a VIP experience. Additionally, Sporting KC fans in attendance will attempt to set a new world record for the largest Flip Cup competition. The Flip Cup competition will begin at 7:30 p.m. CT, and individuals aged 21 and older wishing to participate can sign up by visiting SportingKC.com/flipcup.

7. Streaks Snapped

The Swope Park Rangers (12-5-2, 38 points) had multiple streaks snapped in Sunday's 4-1 home loss to Reno 1868 FC. Head coach Nikola Popovic's men were unbeaten in 10 USL matches, including seven consecutive wins and five straight shutouts, before stumbling to their first defeat since May 26. Currently third in the Western Conference standings, SPR will attempt to bounce back when they travel to face in-state rival Saint Louis FC (6-8-4, 22 points) on Saturday. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. CT at World Wide Technology Soccer Park in Fenton, Missouri, streaming live on SportingKC.com.

8. Plaudits for the President

Last week Sporting Kansas City President Jake Reid was named to the Class of 2017 for the third annual Leaders Under 40 Awards, the global search for the best talent in sports business under the age of 40. Leaders and Aspire Academy recently unveiled the entire the Class of 2017, awarding 42 candidates from 585 nominations worldwide over a nine-month selection process. Reid, 34, will be formally recognized in London during the Leaders Awards Dinner held at the iconic Natural History Museum on Oct. 3, 2017, during Leaders Week. The Leaders Under 40 Awards recipients will be celebrated for their respective achievements and for the impact they have made in their discipline, organization and sport.

9. Weekend Rewind

Another busy weekend of MLS action saw all 22 clubs in action, with more than a few results raising eyes in the Western Conference. Sporting KC took top spot thanks to their victory and FC Dallas' surprising 4-0 home defeat to Vancouver Whitecaps FC, while the Houston Dynamo and Portland Timbers played to a thrilling 2-2 draw at BBVA Compass Stadium. San Jose stayed in the playoff picture with a 1-0 win over cellar-dwellers Colorado, Real Salt Lake dropped more points in a 2-2 tie versus Crew SC, Minnesota United FC broke out in a 4-0 win against miserable D.C. United, and LA Galaxy began the new Sigi Schmid era with a scoreless stalemate against Seattle.

10. Under the Spotlight

The summer's longest transfer saga continues to drag onward as we still don't know if Brazilian forward Neymar will swap FC Barcelona for Paris-St. Germain ahead of the 2017-18 season. As reports continue to build momentum that Neymar will in fact make the move to PSG, SI.com's Avi Creditor examined the potential world-record-shattering transfer from a number of angles.

Elsewhere, another world superstar is also under the spotlight for reasons unrelated to soccer. Cristiano Ronaldo appeared in Spanish court on Monday to face allegations of evading more than $17 million in taxes. It is alleged that Ronaldo concealed income from the sale of his image rights through a financial structure that diverted money to a tax haven in the British Virgin Islands. Ronaldo denied any law-breaking during a 90-minute session with Spanish authorities.

11. Helping Hand

Sporting Kansas City fans can visit SportingKC.com/helpful this week to cast their vote for the Westlake Ace Hardware Helpful Moment of the Month. Individuals can choose among three nominees for the month of July, with each participant receiving a $7 coupon to Westlake Ace Hardware locations in the Kansas City area. The grand prize includes a $300 Westlake gift card, a Sporting KC replica jersey and two tickets to an upcoming match at Children's Mercy Park.

Games to Watch (Aug. 1-3)