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. Philadelphia Flounder
Sporting KC (15-8-6, 51 points) closed out the club's slate of cross-conference matches with a 2-0 loss at the Philadelphia Union (14-12-4, 46 points) on Sunday inside rain-soaked Talen Energy Stadium. Jay Simpson and John McCarthy capitalized on their first starts of the season with Simpson bagging a brace and McCarthy recording six saves for the clean sheet.