The first-place occupancy was a reality not long ago. Less than a month before Sporting Kansas City took the field on Saturday, fighting to reverse the course of its midsummer drought, it led the Western Conference. Sat alone atop the standings.

But while the period of time might lack duration, the separation between what once was and what exists now is significant.

Even more so now.

FC Dallas marched into Children’s Mercy Park and left with a convincing 3-2 victory against Sporting KC in front of 20,758 fans.

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