The Thorns Prediction Game: Reading the PTFC Leaves – Matchday 16

In a rather ugly match, set in a truly ugly venue, with a gruesomely ugly result, the Thorns fell 1-0 to the Reign. Our winners matched the day’s theme, taking only three of a possible 16 points. One.Goal.Beyond and WallofEmilys both called the Taylor goal with Rapinoe assist. David K Anderson got the goal scorer correct plus two points for the most rec’d prediction of a bizarre Nippon-themed opening ceremony with a touch of nudity.

The Royals bring their refreshed lineup to Portland on Friday. It did not take Christen Press long to put down a marker, scoring in the seventh minute of a 3-1 beating of Sky Blue last week. This is very nearly a must-win game for the Thorns, now sitting sixth and one spot below Utah.

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)

Press (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.) Sauerbrunn gets a red for tripping Lussi on the edge of the box.

And lastly, make your fun prediction:

Lussi’s acrobatic goal-of-the-year candidate is so impressive that the Girls, Inc. girls give her all the roses, ignoring Horan and Weber.

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.