Guess the Starting XI and Final Score (MLS Match #33 -LAFC)

Welcome to another season of our Vancouver Whitecaps contest “Guess the Starting XI and Final Score”. As is tradition, thanks to former regular Spencer for starting this several years ago. It has grown into a great contest and I am appreciative of him for the original idea. Like last season, we will break the contest up into the three ‘seasons’: first half, second half, and non-MLS. We will continue to have fun monthly ‘bonus’ prediction categories, with some being based on whatever it topical at the time. Last season we had things like “Robbo post-match quotes”, “yellow cards”, “first goal scorer”, and several others. However, to start the season, we will keep March simple. With that out of the way, let’s remind you all how the scoring is done.

Contest Details

• Contest article will be posted 2-3 days prior to game day.
• We will keep track of first half, second half, and monthly winners so that late joiners will have something to play for.
• I will have a separate ‘contest’ for Voyageurs and Champions League.
• As the MLS season is 34 matches, each half of the season will be based on 17 matches, with your worst two match predictions being dropped. This will allow everyone a few misses or bad guesses throughout the season.
• Predictions will be ‘valid’ if posted HERE 1.5 hours prior to kickoff (or half an hour prior to the lineup being officially announced).

How Scoring is Determined

• You receive 1 point for every player you correctly guess to be in the Starting XI. Receive 1 bonus point for correctly predicting 10 starters. Receive 3 bonus points for correctly predicting 11 starters.
• You get 5 points for correctly guessing Win/Lose/Draw.
• You receive 1 point for correctly guessing each team’s final score. Receive 1 bonus point for correctly guessing both teams final score (for a total of 3).

That means, if you correctly predict the Starting XI, Final Score, and Winner, you can earn 22 points!

After each match, I will tally the scores and update the standings, which will be posted with the following match’s prediction article. I will post three sets of standings. First, the results from the previous match. Second, the monthly standings. Third, the first/second half standings (with your worst two match predictions removed).

Match Review (Sporting Kansas City)

The Vancouver Whitecaps’ playoff hopes may have come to an end on Wednesday night, but we still have something to fight for here! More on that momentarily. In the meantime, let’s review the match that was.

Despite all the players being away for international duty, most were pretty good at predicting the lineup. Was that because there were so few choices? 12 of 16 correctly predicted 10 out of 11 starters. Techera seemed to be the stumbling block for most, as Jitsuo was the only person to correctly predict Hurtado would start. Nicely done! GreyHouseEffect made a bunch of changes leading up to the match, but they paid off big time! Meanwhile, CascadiaCrunchFC was right! I had the good lineup, but was too optimistic. Luckily for CCFC, that lack of optimism for them proved beneficial in the Monthly and Second Half standings.

There were many stereotypical 2-1 scores (both ways). It sure looked like it might go that way (although my 1-1 prediction was looking good for a while), however, several late goals from SKC messed up everyone. Westsider13 was the closest with their 3-1 prediction. If only the match was a few seconds shorter!

This was a big match for our little contest, as it resulted in a change at the top. chuckbiscuits was optimistic like me and it cost them. In the September/October standings, GreyHouseEffect took the lead 97 to 93, while CascadiaCrunchFC is on chuckbiscuits toes at 92 points. AdamP17 and Isabelt round out the top five.

In the Second Half standings, we also had a change at the top. CascadiaCrunchFC and GreyHouseEffect are tied at the top with 183 each, while chuckbiscuits has 181. Isabelt and The Squirrel are still in the hunt with 178 apiece. Should be an exciting final two matches....at least for us!

As has been the routine last month and this, three points to your monthly score for correctly predicting the Whitecaps first goal scorer. If you think no one will score, you need to signify that beyond just the scoreline you write.

When the Scouting Report and Pre-Match are posted we will link to them below.

Good luck everyone!

Scouting Report

Pre-Match

Known Out (Updated as information becomes known)

Out: Marvin Emnes (left abductor strain); Efrain Juarez (right calf strain)

Suspension: Kei Kamara (red card)