The Thorns Prediction Game: Reading the PTFC Leaves

The Thorns were swept in the season series with Utah and lost to the Royals for the first time, 1-0.

Nobody predicted a loss, or a Sauerbrunn goal, or a Sonnett red card. This was probably the lowest scoring week in our game’s history, with only 4 points earned. Danxp2017 took the honors with 75% of the total points, including two for a tale of Laura Harvey getting the nod to replace Jill Ellis, at some cost.

Next up is the biggest match of the season as the North Carolina Courage come to Providence Park on Wednesday at 7:30. With the Utah result, the Thorns no longer control the Shield race even with a win over the Courage. A loss Wednesday means that the Thorns are in jeopardy of playing a semi-final match on the road.

ROSTER REPORT: Both teams have their usual starting 11 and bench available except no Emily Sonnett for Portland due to the red card.

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)

Williams (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.) Jaelene Hinkle, for personal reasons.

Make your fun prediction: The Thorns set an NWSL record by scoring three goals in less than three minutes. It takes the Riveters more time than that to sing all the “Goal Beyond” chants.

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.