The Thorns Prediction Game: Reading the PTFC Leaves – Matchday 4

Once again, everyone who played, won! The Thorns beat Orlando 2-1 (again) for a happy home opener result. This week’s best guesser was Timber Dave who got the score, result, a goal and assist correct for 10 points. Three players got 7 points including new player ddornblaser who called the win, two goals and got the wild bonus for predicting that “midfield” will henceforth be known as “Midgefield”. David K Anderson was the first player this season to get a yellow card right.

There is yet time to enter our little contest. In fact, one perfect guess could still put you in first place. It’s just for fun but there will be small prizes for first and middle-of-the-pack places at season’s end.

Our first Friday match of the season sees the Washington Spirit make the long flight west. In 2017 Washington lost both matches in Portland, including 4-0 in the last meeting. However, since then the Spirit have added some serious firepower in Ashley Hatch, a healthy Mallory Pugh, Andi Sullivan, and (not this week) Rose Lavelle. For the Thorns, this could be the match that sees Tobin Heath get some minutes while Emily Menges remains doubtful.

How this works:

Add a comment to this post. In the comment title put your predicted result, for example 3-1 Thorns.

In the body of your comment, start with the goals and assists, like so:

Weber (Klingenberg)

Sinclair (Free kick)

Horan (Unassisted)

Hatch (PK)

Next, name the first yellow card recipient: First yellow to Sonnett

Then reds, if any. (NOTE: no points awarded for correctly calling a red-card-free match, so take a guess.) Lohman gets a red for tripping Sinclair on the edge of the box.

And lastly, make your fun prediction:

Tobin Heath comes on late and tries to chip Bledsoe from mid-field. The ball bounces into the stands and a swooning fan refuses to give it back.

Scoring:

· Correct score: 5 points

· Correct result (draw/win/loss): 3 points

· Each clean sheet: 2 points

· Each goal-scorer: 1 point

· Each FK/PK/assist/lack of assist: 1 point

· Goal/assist bonus: 1 point

· Player with the first yellow card of the match: 1 point

· Each player with a red card: 1 point (Cannot earn points for predicting 0 red cards)

· Most recommended/most outrageously accurate prediction: 2 points

Some ground rules and explanations/clarifications (the fine print):

Comments must be posted before kickoff, but you can edit or amend an earlier prediction right up to the starting whistle.

Keep your scoreline predictions realistic. No crazy scores just to pad out your odds of getting goals and assists.

The goal/assist bonus is an additional point if you predict the correct scorer and assistant on the same goal, for example, you say Onumonu scores from an Horan assist and that is exactly what happens.

Be clear whether you think a goal will be unassisted, assisted, or from a PK/FK. Unassisted = no assist, run of play; Assisted = player who got the assist; PK/FK = not in run of play. For the purposes of this thread, Penalty Kick and Free Kick are the same thing. No entry means unassisted.

Have fun, tell your friends, let me know if you have any questions or if I screw up your score.