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. Rumble in Rip City
Sporting Kansas City (10-12-7, 37 points) slipped to a last-gasp 2-1 loss against the Portland Timbers (13-11-4, 43 points) on Saturday night in a pulsating Western Conference clash at Providence Park. Benny Feilhaber fired the visitors ahead with a magisterial strike near the hour-mark, but the Timbers rallied behind late strikes from Jeremy Ebobisse and Brian Fernandez to leave Sporting six points shy of playoff positioning with five regular season matches remaining.