The Thorns Prediction Game: Reading the PTFC Leaves — Week 2

The Thorns made short work of Orlando in the season opener, winning 2-0. The clean sheet was particularly nice to see, given no Emily Menges. Our players are all optimists; nobody brought their Timbers funk to the Thorns, although nobody predicted the clean sheet. There were three recommended “wild” predictions — Constant Weeder’s bobblehead tale gets the “nod.”

The Pride went on to North Carolina on Wednesday and got destroyed 5-0. This adds some perspective to the Thorns’ win — Orlando is a terrible team so far this year. Not so the Chicago Red Stars, who held North Carolina to a 1-1 draw in Cary. This match will be a real test for our heroes.

The match is Saturday at 12:30 PM Portland time. It’s the second match of a season-opening doubleheader in Chicago — the early MLS match is the Fire hosting the Colorado Rapids. Recall that last year it was Timbers first, then Thorns in Chicago’s opener.

The Red Stars and Thorns both have new primary jerseys this season and we may see both on display. Which do you prefer?

INJURY REPORT: The Thorns are missing Emily Menges. Midge Purce may play. Hayley Raso is not available due to visa issues.

The Red Stars are without Vanessa DiBernardo, and Casey Short may or may not play (she missed their opener), but otherwise should have their (strong) regular lineup.

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 Ertz

Then reds, if any. (NOTE: no points awarded for correctly calling a red-card-free match, so take a guess.) Ertz gets the red after committing her tenth yellow-card-worthy foul on Horan.

Make your fun prediction:

The Red Stars/Thorns match draws more fans than the Fire/Rapids matchup.

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

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.