The Thorns Prediction Game: Reading the PTFC Leaves

The Red Stars’ Portland curse continues as they were thoroughly beaten 3-0 on Sunday. The Thorns remain in first place and in control of the Shield race.

Everyone predicted a win, so points for all. This week’s honors go to One.Goal.Beyond, the only player to get the exact scoreline correct. For the second week running johnmclarke3 had the most rec’d wild prediction, this time about a resurrected pearl-clutcher getting his comeuppance.

Next up is the team’s last match outside Cascadia and above sea level as the Thorns visit Salt Lake City. The Royals have been muddling along in the final playoff position. They’ve had trouble scoring goals this season but had two recent 3-goal performances, albeit followed by a scoreless draw. With the stingiest defense in the league, Utah has held Portland to draws in both prior meetings.

ROSTER REPORT: Who knows? After the long layoff, hopefully all the non-SEI players will be available for both squads.

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)

Press (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.) Rachel Corsie.

Make your fun prediction: Becky Sauerbrunn takes a shot on goal! And it’s a golazo! Except AD Franch makes the save-of-the-year! Robbing Sauerbrunn of her first professional goal! The Royals huddle up and cry.

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.