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.
1. Heartbreak Hotel
Sporting KC’s 2018 season came to a heartbreaking end on Thursday in a 3-2 defeat to the Portland Timbers in the decisive second leg of the Western Conference Championship. Daniel Salloi and Gerso Fernandes found the back of the net for Sporting KC, but Portland bagged three second-half goals—a brace from Diego Valeri and a Sebastian Blanco wonderstrike—to secure the conference title.