Starting XI: Best in the West

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 sealed first place in the Western Conference and a No. 1 seed in the Audi 2018 MLS Cup Playoffs with a thrilling 2-1 win over LAFC at Children’s Mercy Park. Goals from Roger Espinoza and Daniel Salloi were enough to overcome Carlos Vela’s penalty kick in Sunday’s regular season finale and give Sporting KC their sixth first-place conference finish in club history.

With the No. 1 seed locked up, Sporting KC receives a Knockout Round bye and will begin their postseason campaign in the two-legged Western Conference semifinals, playing away in the first leg this Sunday before hosting the decisive second leg on Sunday, Nov. 11. Kickoff times and broadcast details for playoff games will be announced in the near term.

Tickets for Sporting KC’s first home playoff match on Nov. 11 are now on sale via SeatGeek.com. Season Ticket Members have first right to their seats for all playoff matches, excluding the MLS Cup final, and can contact their Client Services Executive for questions and further information.

2. Know the Foe

The Western Conference table toppers won't know their conference semifinal opponent until the conclusion of the single-elimination Knockout Round on Thursday night. Sporting KC will face the lowest-seeded team to advance from the Knockout Round, with No. 4 FC Dallas hosting No. 5 Portland Timbers on Wednesday and No. 3 LAFC hosting No. 6 Real Salt Lake on Thursday.

Consequently, Sporting KC can narrow down their potential playoff opponent to three clubs: FC Dallas, Portland and Real Salt Lake. If LAFC prevail, they would be the highest-seeded team to advance and thus cannot meet Sporting KC in the conference semifinals. Should Real Salt Lake emerge victorious on Thursday in Los Angeles, Sporting KC will visit Rio Tinto Stadium for Sunday's first leg before hosting their Utah rivals a week later. If LAFC wins, Sporting KC will battle the winner between FC Dallas and Portland.

3. Twice as Nice

Sporting KC's Roger Espinoza and Daniel Salloi are among the nominees for AT&T MLS Goal of the Week, having scored in a 2-1 victory over LAFC on Sunday at Children's Mercy Park. Espinoza bagged a long-range stunner in the 37th minute and Salloi fired home home a 79th-minute winner as Sporting KC finished first in the Western Conference and wrapped up a No. 1 seed in the Audi 2018 MLS Cup Playoffs. Fan voting for MLS Goal of the Week is now open at MLSsoccer.com through Wednesday night.

4. Star of the Show

Sporting KC captain Matt Besler earned MLSsoccer.com Team of the Week honors for the second straight week after racking up eight clearances, five interceptions and four successful duels against an LAFC side that entered Sunday with an eye-watering 35 away goals through 16 matches. His comprehensive anchoring of the Sporting KC defense ultimately limited LAFC to just three shots on goal, one of which was their controversially awarded penalty kick that Carlos Vela slotted home in the 63rd minute.

5. Record Setters

Before casting full attention on the Audi 2018 MLS Cup Playoffs, SportingKC.com took a statistical look at what became the best attacking season in Sporting KC's regular season history. Manager Peter Vermes' side set team records for goals, away goals, goal difference, assists, shots and chances created while also finishing high in shots on goal, points and wins.

6. D-Day Dramatics

Decision Day certainly didn't disappoint. The New York Red Bulls won their third Supporters' Shield in six years and set the all-time single-season MLS points record, but it was a day to forget for the LA Galaxy and Atlanta United, both of whom collapsed in their regular-season finales.

7. Win or Go Home

Following Sunday's action-packed Decision Day, MLS announced today the broadcast schedule for the first round of the Audi 2018 MLS Cup Playoffs. The postseason kicks off Wednesday and Thursday with the single-elimination Knockout Round games, all of which will air live in the United States.

8. SPR Sunk

The Swope Park Rangers suffered a season-ending 4-2 defeat at Phoenix Rising FC on Friday in the Western Conference Semifinals of the 2018 USL Cup Playoffs. Tyler Blackwood and Hadji Barry scored first-half goals for head coach Paulo Nagamura's side, but the reigning Western Conference champions were unable to defend their title as Phoenix rallied for the home victory.

9. Best in the Bizz

On Wednesday, Major League Soccer will announce the three finalists for each of its 2018 year-end awards, including Landon Donovan MLS MVP, Defender of the Year, Goalkeeper of the Year and Coach of the Year. Sporting KC goalkeeper Tim Melia, defender Graham Zusi and manager Peter Vermes are widely considered among the candidates to bring home awards after their strong regular season performances.

10. Rocky Mountain High

Three Sporting KC Academy teams visited Colorado over the weekend for a pair of tripleheaders as the U.S. Soccer Development Academy season resumed. The Sporting KC U-17s emerged with wins over the Colorado Rapids and Real Colorado, while the U-19s (one draw, one loss) and U-15s (one win, one loss) experienced mixed results.

The U-15s will continue their season at 10 a.m. CT Saturday, hosting the San Antonio FC U-15s at Swope Soccer Village. The match is open to the public and free to attend. Follow @SKCAcademy on Twitter for updates throughout the 2018-19 Academy season.

11. Friday Night Lights

Children's Mercy Victory Field at Swope Soccer Village will play host to the 2018 Big 12 Soccer Championship semifinals and finals this weekend. Friday's semifinal doubleheader will see Baylor face Texas Tech at 4:30 p.m. CT and West Virginia meet Texas at 7 p.m. CT. The winners will then square off in Sunday's final at 2:30 p.m. CT with the Big 12 title up for grabs. Fans can purchase match tickets at the stadium box office prior to kickoff or by calling 816-389-4193.