The Thorns Prediction Game: Reading the PTFC Leaves - Week 3

What a bizarre game! The Thorns had the better of the Red Stars for most of the match, but a mysterious penalty and some sloppy defending gave away the win. Christine Sinclair had a hat trick and the Thorns needed it — the final result was a 4-4 draw.

Several of our players predicted draws, but who dreamed of an 8-goal game? New player warriorpower takes the week’s honors by correctly calling the unassisted goal by Sam Kerr, plus the result and the most rec’d wild prediction about AMC’s firefighting talent. Constant Weeder remains in first place overall but it’s all real close.

The next match is Sunday at 3:00 p.m. Portland time versus Sky Blue. To nobody’s particular surprise, Sky Blue are still looking for their first goal and first points of the season. But the Thorns have never had an easy time of it in New Jersey.

INJURY REPORT: The Thorns are missing Emily Menges. Hayley Raso is presumably still not available due to visa issues. For Sky Blue, Savannah McCaskill was questionable last week and may not play.

[LAST MINUTE UPDATE] Menges is listed as questionable, but Horan is out (hip). McCaskill is now not listed, so presumably okay to play.

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)

Lloyd (PK)

Next, name the first yellow card recipient: First yellow to Celeste Boureille

Then reds, if any. (NOTE: no points awarded for correctly calling a red-card-free match, so take a guess.) Caprice Dydasko is sent off for attempting to fight Nadine Angerer in the technical area after Nadine makes a snarky comment about needing showers. Who knew Dydasko spoke German?

Make your fun prediction:

Cloud Nine has a pregame bonfire in the parking lot where they burn an effigy of Tony Novo. The traveling Riveters join them for a supporters group bonding moment.

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.