As is routine for every match, we have our regular Vancouver Whitecaps Guess the Starting XI and Final Score contest. Let’s see how good you are at getting into the manager’s head and predicting how the game will turn out. In addition, we will have monthly, fun, bonus prediction categories, such as yellow cards, substitutions, goal scorers, etc.

How Scoring is Determined

• Predictions will be ‘valid’ if posted HERE half-an-hour prior to the lineup being officially announced, which means 1.5 hours before kickoff.
• 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 typically 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 (LAFC) and Preview (Portland Timbers)

Well, that was fun wasn’t it! I was teaching until 730 and then I had a couple of students stay after to ask a few questions. By the time I turned on the match it was already 4-0. Well, so much for my prediction. I should have known to make it more of a blowout but I just couldn’t do it. In their past three AWAY matches, LAFC was outscored 9-0. BUT, in their past three HOME matches they have outscored their opponent 15-3. I had a feeling that the Caps would lose this one, but apparently going 3-1 LAFC was not good enough. Apparently only five of the 13 people who put in a prediction looked at the past and saw LAFC winning this one. Aided by predicting Baldisimo’s yellow (congrats also to elcapitano2) AshMan77 was the big winner this match, scoring a massive 19 points. Them and IslandLife were the only participants to score 10/11 on the lineup. It was a tricky one with no Montero or Adnan and the switch of Hasal and Teibert. Then there was a three-way tie for second between AtlantisB, GreyHouseEffect, and Isabelt at 14.

Speaking of three-way tie! I am glad I looked at the Overall Standings. Isabelt, IslandLife, and Westsider13 are all in the lead with 108 points. Right behind them are AmandaC and AshMann77 with 105 points, and GreyHouseEffect at 104. It is going to be a fantastic ‘second half’ to this abridged season. Finally, something to be excited about in Whitecaps land!

A few observations from the predictions:

• Congrats to GreyHouseEffect. That negatively finally won out!
• Sorry chuckbiscuits, when you play LAFC 2-1 is not a traditional scoreline apparently!
• Congrats to tecate and CDPrior who correctly predicted 6 goals would be scored...they just didn’t have them given to the right team! Westider13 was close with 4-1 LAFC.
• elcapitano2 FINALLY got their wish with Meredith starting. They were correct in stating that it would be a ‘head turner of a game’, just not the way they were thinking!
• Not the best match for you AmandaC. More pressure when you are near the top of the Overall Standings!
• AshMan77, looks like we were both wrong on Godoy...although with how he played as a substitute against LAFC I wouldn’t be surprised to see him start in the middle of defense.

On Sunday, the Whitecaps will play their home match in Portland...against Portland...Yeah, okay. I mean, at least pit the Caps against a team NOT from that city. Anyway, it is what it is. Meredith didn’t look great against LAFC but to be fair no one did really. Does Hasal get back in provided that he is mostly okay? Does Teibert see the field again after Baldisimo’s poorest outing? Montero needs to start doesn’t he? What happens with the central defense? Does Godoy start? Does Adnan come back in and if so does he go at LB or LW? Some interesting decisions to make before the match tomorrow.

This will be the final match of September, so for October we will start a new Standings table and we will switch up the bonus category. So, for the last time this season (probably), the bonus category will be predicting who will get the Whitecaps first yellow card. If you believe none will be given you need to state that. Oh, and a straight red doesn’t count as first yellow.

Good luck!