Rose City Forecast 7: PTFC vs NYCFC

For the first time in 2018, the Forecast returns after the Portland Timbers claimed a win! It was also, as perhaps you’re aware, the Timbers’ first home match. Coincidence? Probably not!

That said, the 3-2 result over Minnesota United was nervier than it needed to be, as the Timbers hit the woodwork multiple times, had goals called back for offside (one for and one against), and gave up a beauty of an own goal courtesy of Bill Tuiloma. PTFC took the lead midway through the first half on the back of an outstanding run by Alvas Powell, which he finished with aplomb. That lead doubled minutes later, and this time it was Powell providing service to Diego Valeri’s near post run. In the second half, Minnesota got one back thanks to their new DP Darwin Quintero and a poor save attempt by Jake Gleeson. The Timbers got their final goal when Fanendo Adi scored his first of 2018, by deflecting a bouncing Cristhian Paredes shot. PTFC wasn’t done scoring but alas, their fourth goal (that wasn’t called back, at least) went into the wrong net when Tuiloma’s attempted clearance chipped Gleeson. And though the final minutes of the match may have given more than a few Timbers fans palpitations, the team managed to hold on to that 3-2 win.

UNOprivateer gets pick of the week for calling the correct score, three of the goals and an assist with an goal/assist bonus point. jocked07 earned the bonus points for silliness after the following prediction: “To add spice to the home opener festivities, Lovell Palmer is hired to deliver the game ball by parachuting from the tall crane. (Jorge Perlaza’s appearance fee was too high, thus Palmer.) In an unfortunate twist, the field blowers brought in to clear the smoke from the fireworks create an updraft taking Palmer and ball up and over the TA and out of the stadium, never to be seen again.” Honorable mention to MrMoody for suggesting that the ref would have a good game, and he generally did!

A perfect prediction, earning 25 points:

3-2

Powell (Larrys Mabiala); Valeri (Powell or Paredes); Adi (Paredes or Valeri)

Quintero (Manley); Tuiloma (OG)

Rasmus Schuller with the first yellow

Over on cards.

Standings (and check your weekly points. I was a bit rushed, so mistakes may have happened!)

This weekend, PTFC is home again, hosting the current league leaders: New York City FC. NYCFC has yet to lose this season with five wins and two draws. Two of the wins and both draws were in away matches, so they will certainly think they can get a result in Portland. As we’ve seen, PTFC has been on an upward trajectory since the debacle at New York Red Bulls, and with their second match at home this season, the boys in green will be looking to win, no matter the opponent’s record. So, do the Timbers maintain the fortress that was Providence Park last year, or does NYCFC keep rolling?

Total Cards O/U: 4.5

The Scoring Format:

• 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, but you may predict up to 3 players with a red.)
• Over/under on total cards: 1 point
• Most outrageous(ly accurate) prediction: 2 points

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

You may amend your prediction at any point up to kick off to account for game day 18 announcements. I recommend at least getting an initial prediction sooner, just in case you forget to come back in that hour or two before the game.

Keep your scoreline predictions realistic. Basically, if you’re predicting lots of goals all the time to just earn points on goals and assists and ignoring the score, I feel that goes against the spirit of this thread. This hasn’t been at all a problem in the last two years, so let’s keep it that way!

The goal/assist bonus is an additional point if you correctly get the correct scorer and assistant on the same goal. (e.g., if Nagbe scores, assisted by Valeri, and you predicted that exact combination you get a total of three points - 1 goal, 1 assist, 1 bonus. However, if you predicted Nagbe scores assisted by Adi and Adi scores assisted by Valeri, you would get two points from the Nagbe/Valeri prediction - 1 goal, 1 assist)

Please 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 = directly from a free kick. For the purposes of this thread, a PK counts as a FK, and a FK as a PK. If you just leave the assist section blank, I will assume you’re declining to make an assist prediction.

Even though a player can be awarded a secondary assist by OPTA, I will award a maximum of one assist point per goal. But that point can come from either the primary or secondary assist in the box score. However, please keep your predictions to one assist per goal.

For the over/under on cards, a second yellow leading to a red counts as two cards, not three.

You may predict more than one red card if you’re expecting a chippy match, but only up to three total.

For the most outrageous(ly accurate) prediction, I will be trying to toe a line between completely absurd and mundane in my choices. As I see it, the goal here is to add even more fun without going too over-the-top ridiculous. So, in my mind, the best predictions will be something that could conceivably happen, but don’t happen often, like amusing coaching spats or goals that bounce off the crossbar, then off the keeper’s back, and then in. Things like that.

If you’re looking for where I set the over/under on total cards, check the end of the preview paragraph after the standings.

Format:

In the comment title, post your predicted score with the winners, eg: 4-2 Timbers

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

Nagbe (Valeri)

Valeri (Free kick)

Adi (PK)

Blanco (Unassisted)

Beckham (Free kick)

Donovan (Beckham)

Next, choose your first yellow card, and that means picking only one person.

First yellow to Nigel De Jong

Then reds, if any. (NOTE: no points awarded for correctly calling a red-card-free match, so take a guess.)

Nigel De Jong gets a red card for stomping Blanco.

Clearly note whether you’re predicting over or under on total cards. Don’t leave me to try and figure it out!

And lastly, make your fun prediction.

Nigel de Jong tries to stomp Nagbe’s ankle again, but this time, Nagbe avoids the tackle. Being angry Nagbe for the first time in three years, he kicks the ball straight into NDJ’s groin. Camera pans to a trademark Chara smile.

As always, any questions about anything?