The Thorns Prediction Game: Reading the PTFC Leaves – Matchday 9

Another home game, another warm day, another sad result. The Thorns lost 2-1 to the Orlando Pride. [UPDATE: I messed up! The revised table and standings are below. Mrs. Appleton was correct to give me a “Needs Improvement” in Reading Comprehension long ago. - RH] Nobody predicted a loss (because who would do that?) but there were still points earned.

This week’s honors go to ccccccc who correctly called the loss, even getting the score correct, for eight of the possible 20 points. The middle-of-the-pack position is now held by ddornblaser, with Timber Dave at the top of the table.

John Lawes got the most rec’d bonus for his prediction of high-volume midfield lessons in colloquial Portuguese. It’s didn’t happen, but it would have been hilarious if it had.

Next up is the Washington Spirit on Saturday at 4:00 pm. Despite their talented roster, Washington is off to a poor start this year. One the highlights of their season was the 1-1 draw they got at Providence Park—their only road points so far. Rose Lavelle is still out with the hamstring from hell – no word yet whether she might play on Saturday. The weather forecast is very pleasant at 75 degrees and not too humid.

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:

AMC (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.) Huster gets a red for tripping Sinclair on the edge of the box.

And lastly, make your fun prediction:

Lindsey Horan gets a yellow card for delay of game when she kicks the goal post in frustration and breaks it.

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.