The Thorns Prediction Game: Reading the PTFC Leaves

The most exciting match of the season was the Thorns 4-3 win over Orlando on Sunday. Not bad for the first televised game of the NWSL season! Lussi’s was the first walk-off goal for a win in team history — previous best was Betos’ walk-off equalizer in the same net.

This was the 12^th match of the season, so we’re halfway there. A reminder that prizes go to our first place and middle-of-the-table finishers (currently johnmclarke3).

Our big winner this week was sergiooo, with 10 points for three correct goals, including one correct matching (non) assist, plus the most-rec’d fun prediction of Brynjar’s extreme cuteness (did you see him after the match? omg!). Danxp2017 got four goal scorers correct, while Constant Weeder may have had the first correct yellow card prediction of 2019. Nobody got shut out — so great work!

Friday night, at 7:00, Portland time, we’re in Sandy, Utah to face the toothless Royals who most recently lost to Sky Blue 1-0. I suspect that another four goals will be enough to come back with three points.

ROSTER REPORT: This could be the match that sees some USWNT players return to NWSL action. I’d not be surprised to see Sonnett, Heath, and/or Horan get some minutes for the Thorns. Given how desperate the Royals are, Press, Sauerbrunn, and O’Hara might play most or all the game.

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)

Purce (Unassisted)

Rodriguez (PK)

Next, name the first yellow card recipient: First yellow to Dagny.

Then reds, if any. (NOTE: no points awarded for correctly calling a red-card-free match, so take a guess.) Katie Stengel.

Make your fun prediction: The traveling Riveters all show up wearing plush robes. Klingenberg hops over the boards to give them all hugs.

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. P.S. if you say exactly that, and it happens, I will hunt you down and buy you a beer!

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.