The Thorns Prediction Game: Reading the PTFC Leaves

The play Friday in Utah matched the result – not very pretty and mostly even. Once again, the Thorns handed over an equalizer within seconds of scoring the shoulda-been game-winner. This time there was no last-kick drama; a 2-2 draw was snatched from the jaws of victory.

This was good news for our only player to predict a draw, who also got a goal-assist combination correct and the most-rec’d wild prediction of a violent Scooby-Doo adventure in Sandy. So -- nine points and this week’s honors to our perpetual pessimist, FDChief. New player Calafia (welcome!) got the yellow card correct – a rare occurrence.

We now have a short turnaround as the Dash comes to town, hopefully sans mascot, on Wednesday at 7:30. They have a shorter interval than we do, and further to travel having played in Washington DC on Saturday in oppressive heat with a long weather delay. But they did win, 2-1. It was their first win since May 11. Both teams have all their USWNT players back, which in Houston’s case means nobody.

ROSTER REPORT: Houston had no injuries (aside from SEI) listed on Saturday and nobody appeared to be hurt during the match. It’s same for the Thorns, assuming Carpenter’s knock was not worse than it looked.

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)

Hill (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.) Haley Hanson.

Make your fun prediction: The crowd attempts to break the 116db noise record set July 14, but falls 1db short because I was in the concourse buying beers.

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.