Guess the Starting XI & Final Score 2019 (MLS Match #17 - Colorado Rapids)

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 half-an-hour 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).

RECAP (courtesy of Tres_Tristes_Tigres & AtlantisB)

The Vancouver Whitecaps closed out their May with a 1-1 draw at home to Toronto FC. It was a bit unexpected as many of our predictors saw a victory coming. In fact, CascadiaCrunchFC and tecate were the only people who correctly predicted a draw. CascadiaCrunchFC used that prediction to finish first in match score, with 21. They were followed by Island Life (20) and AshMan77/CDPrior (19).

The foolish decision of AtlantisB to have the same winner prediction as Island Life meant that the monthly competition ended with a whimper. However, even that wouldn’t have been enough as Island Life coasted to the May victory with 114 points. AtlantisB finished second with 106, followed by CDPrior and ZTJ9901 (both with 102). edmondk rounded out the top five with a score of 101.

Where selecting the same winner most impacted AtlantisB was in the First Half Standings. With just one match remaining Island Life has a five point lead over AtlantisB (189 to 184). It will be important to pick a different winner if AtlantisB wants to catch up. However, they can’t be too risky as Isabelt is right behind them with 182. tecate (181) and edmondk (179) round out the top five. It will be a fantastic final match. Good opportunity to get in some last minute strategy before we reset everything for the second half next match.

With only two matches in July we are not going to have a bonus category or monthly total, so just a simple pick this match. Of course it won’t be too simple as we have no idea who is healthy and who is injured, given the long break. In addition, the Caps will be without several players; namely Henry and Cornelius. Does Rose slip in at central defense again or is Khmiri ready?

As always, check out our Know the Enemy and Pre-Match articles to help you with your predictions.

Good luck with closing out the first half.