KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Diego Rubio is back in Sporting Kansas City’s starting lineup, and his return comes at the perfect time.
SKC will advance to the MLS Cup with a win against Portland on Thursday in the second leg of the Western Conference Finals at Children’s Mercy Park. Having one of the team’s most important attacking players in Rubio (eight goals this year) will be crucial. He sat out the first leg of the conference final thanks to yellow card accumulation.
The rest of Kansas City’s lineup is the exact same as in Sunday’s first leg in Portland. Rounding out the attack are Johnny Russell and the team’s golden boot winner, Daniel Salloi.
Felipe Gutierrez, Ilie Sanchez and Roger Espinoza are in the midfield. And in the back, Seth Sinovic, Matt Besler, Ike Opara and Graham Zusi make up the defensive region.
The XI – @MLS Western Conference Final edition. #ClaimTheCup #SKCvPOR#ForGloryForCity pic.twitter.com/gXdZGffFI2
— Sporting KC (@SportingKC) November 30, 2018
The first leg between Kansas City and Portland ended in a 0-0 tie. If Kansas City wins Thursday, it would advance to the MLS Cup against the winner of an earlier semifinal between Atlanta and the New York Red Bulls. With another 0-0 tie, the teams would go to extra time. A score-draw would result in Portland advancing.
Portland also released its starting XI:
Our Starting XI for Leg 2 of the Western Conference Championship. #OnwardRoseCity #RCTID pic.twitter.com/aRDpA5qfWp
— Portland Timbers (@TimbersFC) November 30, 2018
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