The Thorns Prediction Game: Reading the PTFC Leaves – Matchday 15

It was a lovely night for soccer and Pride on Wednesday and the crowd was anticipating a rout versus lowly Sky Blue FC. It was not to be. For our players, this was not a profitable match, with WallofEmilys the big winner, scoring four of a possible seventeen points with a goal, assist and rec’d prediction of the Thorns helping out their Timbers brethren.

Like the NWSL, we see a crowd at the top of our table. Unlike the NWSL table, nobody is running away with the top spot – half the field is still within striking distance of the title and the other half for the mid-place prize.

Now we hop on the bus and head north. The Reign also failed to take maximum points in Utah, priming Saturday’s match with playoff implications. A win improves the chances for a home playoff match, a loss puts a big dent in those hopes, a draw changes nothing. The Thorns generally don’t prosper in Seattle. However, the Curse of Memorial is broken, and the Reign are not as scary as in past years.

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:

Lussi (Klingenberg)

Horan (Free kick)

Weber (Unassisted)

Rapinoe (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.) Fishlock gets a red for tripping Lussi on the edge of the box.

And lastly, make your fun prediction:

Jess Fishlock tries to wind up the Riveters with hand gestures, but they just ignore her entirely. She pouts.

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.