Announcement
22 Nov. '09. Despite being without 6 key players for this weekend's tournament due to injuries (3) or other commitments (away in school or with family or training abroad), the Internationals played valiantly in its 3 matches against 3 top-ranked teams in Region I and nationally, YMS Xplosion (PA-E) - 1st, LMSC Velez (PA-E) - 4th, and GFA 91 Elite (VA) - 5th.
In the 1st match on Sat., 21 Nov., against the top-ranked Xplosion and one of Inter's arch-rivals from Region I Premier, the Internationals played YMS mostly even in the 1st half, holding them off the board and allowing just 2 shots from around 20-22 yards out which both sailed wide right. The Xposion committed 3 fouls (including 1 offsides) while Inter committed just 1 foul. Lacking an available, true striker due to injury rehab and release of another to the very YMS team in his home PA-E (who was playing defense for YMS in this match), Inter was held to no shots taken but did manufacture 2 corner kicks which were unsuccessful.
In the 2nd half, Inter played much more physically, committing 6 fouls (including a YC shown to Philip for a hard foul, and 1 offsides) while YMS committed 3 fouls (including 2 offsides). Both sides stepped up its offensive intensity with Inter setting up 7 shots/scoring chances, including a shot at the 8 min. mark by Jamie T. from mid-field near 25 yds. which went wide right and deflected over the end line for a corner kick; a shot by Jamie M. at the 18 min. mark near 18-20 yds. out which went wide right; a shot by Vitalis from 25 yds. left which the GK caught; another shot by V from 25 yds. right which went wide right; a header attempt in the box by (Nate?) which went wide; and, at the 37 min. mark, a shot by Stephen from 20-22 yds. right after a nice maneuver to free himself for the shot but the GK read the angle well and caught it. Inter also created 4 corner kick opportunities but all were unsuccessful. After Inter was unable to clear the ball away around the 9 min. mark, the Xplosion collected a ball close-in and struck the go-ahead goal past Seth. YMS also setup 7 shots on goal, including a long-ball behind the back line to a player on a break-away, but Seth came out to make a great stop/save. YMS also created 3 corner kicks which were all unsuccessful. The Xplosion would secure the win with a nice cross from 25 yds. left into the box, far post to an unmarked player who easily headed in the 2nd goal, and the match ended, 2-0, YMS Xplosion.
'Out of the frying pan into the fire', the saying goes. In the 2nd match on Sat., Inter faced its other friends/arch-rivals from Region I Premier, LMSC Velez, ranked 4th in the country via GotSoccer. In its earlier 1st contest of the day, the Velez were edged by GFA 91 Elite, 0-1. LMSC came out strong at the opening bell, moving the ball around well to setup a number of scoring opportunities and stymied the Internationals from any real scoring threat throughout the match, save for a couple of unsuccessful corner kicks.
In the 1st half, Inter was held to just a single, unsuccessful corner kick while committing 6 fouls, including a questionable call in the box on Mike N. which resulted in a successful PK by LMSC at the 17th Min. mark. The Velez launched 6 shots on goal, including a shot from 20 yds. left which hit the cross-bar, 2 others which went wide left, and 3 stops by Mike M. including a great finger-tip save off of a blast from 18 yds. center. Velez also created 2 corner kick opportunities which were unsuccessful, while committing 4 fouls, and the half ended, 1-0, Velez.
In the 2nd half, LMSC kept ut is tight defensive play, holding Inter to just 1 shot by Patrick 18-20 yds. center which the GK punched out away. Inter committed 4 foulds (including 1 offsides) and Velez also committed 4 fouls. LMSC continued its strong offensive play, setting up 4 shots on goal which all but one went awry. At about the 18 min. mark, a ball was ineffectively cleared out of Inter's box and fell to the feet of a Velez player who sent an easy strike into the net which resulted in Velez's 2nd goal and the match ended, 2-0, Velez.
In the 3rd contest on 23 Nov., Inter faced another old local rival, GFA 91 Elite, who prevailed in the last meeting at the USYSA Regionals, 1-0. At the opening whistle, Inter kicked off and played with muchg more focus and determination, moving the ball around well to setup a number of scoring opportuniti8es while effectively defending GFA, holding the Elite to just 3 shots, 2 awry and 1 on target, and no corners. Inter also took 3 shots but created 5 corner kick situations. GFA committed 7 fouls (including 1 offsides) while Inter committed 6 fouls. Inter struck first at the 11 min. mark off of a right CK by V into the box where Jamie M. collected the ball to punch in the go-ahead goal. GFA would find the equalizer goal at the 18 min. mark on a counter-attack with a long ball that dropped in behind the back line who were unable to close before a hard-struck ball from 5 yds. center found its way past Seth into the net. At the 27 min mark, V launched another well-placed right CK into the box where Ben located himself into an unmarked spot near far post to knock in the 2nd goal, and the half ended, 2-1, Inter.
In the 2nd half, GFA stepped up its physical play and offensive intensity, setting up 3 shots and 1 corner kick which were all unsuccessful while committing 10 fouls (including 1 handball & 1 offsides). Inter setup 3 shots and 1 unsuccessful corner kick, including a shot by V at the 4 min mark from 18 yds. left which went wide left. One min. later, off of a right CK by V into the box, Ben's header attempt was caught by thge GK. Inter committed 4 fouls, and after a foul on Nate at the 39th min. mar, Patrick's free kick into the box was cleared away and the match ended, 2-1, Pachuca.
