The Thorns Prediction Game: Reading the PTFC Leaves – Matchday 21

Portland 2, Orlando 0. A very satisfying and needed result that moves the Thorns into third place. Ted Servata was clearly the winner in our little contest, predicting the score exactly, plus two goals, one with the correct assist, for 13 of the 19 possible points. [Note: I am going with the official NWSL scoring of Heath assisting Horan’s goal – there is legitimate debate that AMC got an important touch in between.] Two wild predictions tied with two rec’s each. I am exercising my executive powers to award the two points to John Lawes for his detailed, crazy, and totally wrong prediction of Leroux accidentally saving the Thorns from a loss.

We are next home again for another potential six-pointer, versus the Chicago Red Stars on Saturday night. A Chicago win sees them take our third-place spot, while a Thorns win leaves us only two points behind Seattle with a clear path to a second-place finish. The Red Stars played Seattle on Wednesday and came away with a draw under very poor air quality conditions. They should have their full roster available, if not rested, for Saturday. [UPDATE: Steph McCaffrey is out for Chicago with illness, the Thorns are permanently without Meg Morris and Kat Reynolds with SEI’s.]

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)

AMC (Free kick)

Heath (Unassisted)

Kerr (PK)

Next, name the first yellow card recipient: First yellow to Horan

Then reds, if any. (NOTE: no points awarded for correctly calling a red-card-free match, so take a guess.) Naeher gets a red for tripping Lussi on the edge of the box.

Make your fun prediction:

Sam Kerr gets injured in a collision with Naeher. Raso, Carpenter, and Foord have to be restrained from going after the Chicago keeper in revenge.

Lastly, please recommend one of the other players’ fun prediction.

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.