Ah, soccer, or as the rest of the world calls it, football. It's a sport where 22 players kick around a ball, sometimes even getting it into the net. Today we have the Utah Royals FC drawing swords against the Portland Thorns FC. So let's buckle up and crunch some numbers.
Starting with our homegrown heroes, the Portland Thorns FC, they're being guarded by Shelby Hogan whose gloves have collected 6 saves with a commendable 6.67 rating. The offensive arsenal is led by Marie Müller, who, while hasn't netted any goals this season, has been the backbone with a 76.4% accurate pass rate. Not too shabby. Sophia Smith and Olivia Moultrie also deserve mentions with 2 goals and a solid playmaking record, respectively.
Turning our gaze to the visitors, the Utah Royals FC, the defensive fortress is held by Amanda McGlynn, who stands with a 7.33 rating and an impressive stash of 15 saves. On the frontline, they have the powerhouse Kate Del Fava with 1 goal and Ally Sentnor, who's been keeping the opposition's goalkeeper on high alert with 2 shots on goal. Don't be fooled, these ladies pack a punch.
However, let's not overlook the elephant in the room or, as statisticians might say, the elephant on the pitch. Utah Royals FC had a rough run this regular season with a 2-1-11 record while the Thorns FC, although not exactly impressive, managed a semi-respectable 7-2-5. In terms of recent matches, the Thorns have been picking up some momentum like a runaway steam train, compared to the Royals, who've had more downs than ups.
But don't count your chickens before they hatch. As we've seen multiple times before (Remember the Miracle on Ice? Yeah, that kind of stuff), no game is over until the final whistle blows.
Albert’s Prediction: Portland Thorns FC by 1