Guess the Starting XI and Final Score (MLS Match #8 - SKC

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.

P.S. I would love if someone would create a great little graphic that we could use for these articles!

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 prior to the lineup being officially announced (1 hour before kickoff).

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 in Review (Lost Angeles Football Club) and Preview (Sporting Kansas City)

For the first time in a long time, the Vancouver Whitecaps lost two matches in a row. There were only five of you that predicted that the 11-game home unbeaten streak would come to an end -GreyhouseEffect, Westsider13, edmondk, Jitsuo, and Cashen- and your pessimism paid off! GreyHouseEffect rode that correct prediction, and 10/11 on their lineup prediction to a match high score of 16. They were followed by Westider13 and edmondk, who both ended with a score of 14.

I certainly enjoy reading your comments, and wanted to point to this one by Cashen “This lil guessing game we play every match is harder than picking the winning number in roulette”. So very true. While hbamaral’s prediction of de Yong being in the lineup was interesting. I assume you meant de Jong, so I gave you the benefit of the doubt and the point.

Several people scored 10/11 on their lineup prediction, only being stymied by the Kamara substitution. No one predicted Erik Hurtado...well, no one except Anna!

A lot of people had Ghazal as first substitute. Honestly, I was right there with you on that (or Shea). Instead, it ended up being the return of Yordy Reyna. rtomsheck had it correct, but ended up changing their prediction 10 minutes before lineups were announced. Oops!

The Whitecaps now travel to Sporting Kansas City, where they have been one of the few teams to have success over the past few seasons. Don’t forget, they stopped SKC’s long home-unbeaten streak last season. Vancouver will probably be without Kamara, but they are hopefully Blondell is back. Do we see Reyna slot back into the starting lineup? Many of us expected to see Ghazal get a start at BC Place, but Juarez and Teibert were chosen instead. Perhaps we see him this week?

Get your predictions in and we will see who is best. Don’t forget your first substitute prediction.

Known Out (Updated as information becomes known)

Injury: Sean Franklin, Jordan Mutch, Kei Kamara, Anthony Blondell (questionable)

Suspension: None

International Duty: None