The Thorns Prediction Game: Reading the PTFC Leaves

Our Thorns waited out a weather delay and then delivered a tidy 2-1 win on the road to assume first place in the table. The scorers for Portland were Tyler Lussi with a golaxian strike from 22 yards, and then a sweet finish by Midge Purce from point blank.

Four of our players predicted the exact scoreline and a Purce goal – a new record for prescience! That’s nine of a possible 20 points. Two others had the win, but not the Houston goal – an entirely reasonable guess. Nobody struck out. We had johmmclarke3 who called a draw but still scored three points with his Purce goal and most rec’d wild prediction of a blasé “pep talk” from Emily Menges. Everybody gets an orange slice!

Next up is Tacoma’s first visit (as Tacoma) to Providence Park this Friday, July 5^th, at 8:00 pm. Will this be the first sellout of our new expanded capacity, and thus an NWSL attendance record? For one bonus point give your answer in your guess: (1) it is less than 21,144; or (2) it’s more than 21,144 but less than 23,403, e.g. a new Thorns record; or (3) it’s over 23,403 for a new NWSL record.

ROSTER REPORT: It’s re-integration time. Will Foord and Raso be back? Christine? By matchday, you should know, but my money is on “Yes, they will”. Same goes for Tacoma – except Rapinoe and Long (and probably Taylor). [UPDATE: Jess Fishlock did her knee and is gone for the season]

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)

Jenkins (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.) Yanez– on general principle.

Make your fun prediction: With a USA v Netherlands World Cup Final looming, the stands are filled with all sorts of strange costumes. Who wears wooden shoes to a football match? Somebody at Providence Park will do it.

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.