Starting XI 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. Great Scot
Forward Johnny Russell scored a hat-trick and Sporting KC tied its largest margin of victory in club history with a rampant 6-0 win over nine-man Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Friday night at Children’s Mercy Park. Jimmy Medranda, Cristian Lobato and Yohan Croizet also got in on the scoring act for a dominant Sporting KC side (5-1-2, 17 points) that went seven points clear atop the Western Conference and pushed its unbeaten streak to seven matches.