Rose City Forecast 5: Orlando City vs Portland Timbers

Another week, another forecast; and this one coming off a second road result in a row. Progress! Last weekend against Chicago Fire, the Portland Timbers took an ultimately disappointing point in a 2-2 draw. Why is a road point at the beginning of the season disappointing? Because up until the 84th minute, PTFC was holding a 2-1 lead. In fact, starting with Diego Valeri’s first goal of the season in the 6th minute, and then Sebastian Blanco’s third in the 55th, the Timbers had the lead for about 75 minutes of the match; so, in the end, despite a decent enough result, it felt like the team left two points on the table.

Several of you, at least, can take solace in that last Chicago goal, as it earned you points on the week. UNOprivateer takes pick of the week for calling the 2-2 score, a Nemanja Nikolic goal ( assisted by Bastian Shweinsteiger), a Blanco goal, and under on cards, for a total of 13 points. A few others also got the 2-2 scoreline, so congrats to all! And then, silliness of the week goes to MacVanek who suggested that PTFC would get a win and in celebration of his first victory, Giovanni Savarese would co-opt the Ridgy Roll.

A perfect prediction, for a total of 22 points:

2-2

Valeri (Blanco); Blanco (Flores)

Nemanja Nikolic (Brandon Vincent) OR (Bastian Schweinsteiger); Vincent (Schweinsteiger)

First yellow: Aleksander Katai

Under on cards

The Timbers five-game, season-opening road trip has finally reached its final match as the Timbers make their longest journey of the year, to Orlando City. Like the Timbers, Orlando has been struggling this year. Unlike the Timbers, they haven’t had all their games on the road. However, last match, they finally got their first win of the season, helped by at least a couple controversial calls. Meanwhile, PTFC will be glad to see the end of their road trip, but there are still questions around the team. David Guzman is out with an injury, and is actually doing his rehab in Costa Rica. Liam Ridgewell’s status is still uncertain. Can Blanco continue his form - and if he doesn’t, will the Timbers be able to score? Lots of things to consider as you make your last prediction before the Timbers get their first look at Providence Park in 2018.

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?