The Thorns Prediction Game: Reading the PTFC Leaves

After again conceding an early goal on a corner kick — undoubtedly due to the purple pixel storm that blew in during the first 20 minutes of the match — the Thorns stormed back to win 3-1 in Orlando. Dagny got things started, Andressinha piled on with a lovely free kick, and then Foord scored a beautiful volleyed goal. She later butchered a penalty kick and the subsequent put-back attempts. The Thorns goals were all unassisted.

WallofEmilys takes this week’s honors with a perfect score prediction. The wild bonus nod again goes to Constant Weeder with two rec’s for a story about Timber Joey subtracting from the atmosphere at Orlando City Stadium. Our other players need to step up their “wildness” game! I believe ConstantWeeder has taken the honors every week so far.

The next match is Saturday at 4:00 Portland time, as the Thorns visit the fifth-place Washington Spirit. The Spirit are one the teams least affected by World Cup absences.

ROSTER REPORT: This is expected to be the last game with our Australian players and Andressinha. Aside from missing internationals, both teams are full-strength, although Menges for Portland and Berryhill for Washington as listed as questionable.

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)

Carpenter (Unassisted)

Hatch (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.) Sullivan hacks Andressinha once too often, or maybe it was twice.

Make your fun prediction:

Mark Parsons shows his displeasure at returning to face his former club by shaking everyone’s hand and generally being a really nice guy.

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 Reynolds scores from a Boureille 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.