The Thorns Prediction Game: Reading the PTFC Leaves

The Thorns squeaked past the Dash 1-0 on a Heath goal from a very nice Horan pass. This was happy news for most of our players who had predicted the win. Only one player had Heath as a goal scorer, One.Goal.Beyond, who retakes first place. Even FDChief, who predicted a draw, got two points for the most rec’d wild prediction about Ana-Maria finally seeing the pitch — for 11 minutes. That is exactly what happened, so good job!

Next up is our second visit to Cheney Field in Tacoma to face the Reign on Sunday at 11:00 a.m. Last time was a loss for us. If the Thorns are to host a semifinal, this game must be won unless Utah beats Chicago on Saturday. For the Reign it’s simple: Win and they are in the playoffs. If Chicago beats Utah, then the Reign are in regardless, but can take third place by winning out.

ROSTER REPORT: Both teams should have their usual starting 11 and bench available. The Reign listed Balcer as questionable, but she started against Utah. They also listed Oyster questionable, and she did not dress Wednesday.

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)

Rapinoe (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.) Allie Long.

Make your fun prediction: In protest of the incredibly early starting time, both teams come out in pajamas for warm-ups.

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.