Announcement
14 Dec. ’07. On a splendid, warm, sunny, blue-sky Friday morning with temps in the upper 60’s, the Internationals were matched up with a little before known team from Georgia, the GSA Phoenix, which a mom on the sidelines indicated is a new team with players from several other teams including (7) players from the once formidable Norcross Fury Gold. The first half would be a physical and defensive battle with both teams limiting the other to just 1 shot on goal which were both unsuccessful. The Phoenix were quick, pressured the ball strongly, giving little room/time to make crisp and effective passes. They would also setup 1 corner kick opportunity which went awry while committing 9 fouls (including 1 handball). The Internationals almost managed to squeak in a goal off of a nice free kick from Patrick M. about 22 yards out on the right into the box where Matt H. volleyed the ball from the left 10-15 yards out that went just over the cross bar. The Internationals committed 10 fouls (including 1 handball), giving numerous opportunities to some well-placed dangerous balls in the goal mouth from far out by #12, and the half ended scoreless. In the second half, both teams intensified their offensive attacking with the Phoenix shooting 3 times on goal with 1 corner kick, but all were unsuccessful while committing 4 fouls. The Internationals would also shoot 3 times on goal, including a shot which sailed just over the cross bar by Nick A. in the waning seconds of the match, and 4 corner kick opportunities which were all unsuccessful while committing 10 fouls (including 1 handball and 2 offsides), and the match ended nil-nil.
15 Dec. ’07. On a cloudy, much cooler and windy day with temps in the lower 40’s, with much anticipation the Internationals faced the much heralded Lonestars 92B Red from Texas-South and Region 3 Champs/USYSA National Semi-Finalist. This match was also somewhat of a defensive battle, although not quite as physical as the 1st match and the Lonestars did not pressure the ball quite as tight as the Georgia team, which gave the Internationals slightly more time to maneuver the ball around. The Internationals strong defense stymied the Lonestars, holding them to no shots on goal or corner kick opportunities while committing 4 fouls. The Internationals would take just 1 effective shot on goal and setup 5 corner kicks which all went awry while committing 4 fouls. At about the 6 minute mark, Vitlais received a ball on the left side about 20 yards out and serviced the ball into the box to Ebo about 10-12 yards out where he turned and sent a shot/pass towards goal where Skylar was in perfect position on the far post about 6 yards out, slamming in the only goal and the half ended, 1-0, Internationals. In the second half, the Lonestars would step up their offensive intensity, shooting 5 times on goal with 1 corner kick but all were unsuccessful while committing 5 fouls (including a YC shown to #16 for crashing into Seth M./GK). The Internationals would manage just 2 shots on goal with 2 corner kicks while all were unsuccessful while committing 3 fouls (including 1 handball), and the match ended, 1-0, Internationals.
Later in the still cool afternoon with intermittent light rain, the Internationals would square off with another little before known team from Indiana, the Indy Burn 92, who dropped a tough match yesterday to the Lonestars, 0-2, and also lost earlier this morning to the GSA Phoenix, 0-6, after playing a man down due to red card and some officiating issues. The Internationals expected they would be in a for a hard fought contest with the Burn who did not want to go home winless. The Burn played hard but they managed just 1 shot on goal which was unsuccessful with no corner kicks while committing 4 fouls. Inter would manage 2 shots on goal, one which was successful and setup 2 corner kicks which were not successful while committing 7 fouls (including 2 handballs and 1 offsides). At about the 28 minute mark, Skylar sent a well-placed corner kick from the right into the right side of goal area where Nathaniel H. flicked it into the box where Scott was positioned about 3-4 yards out and deflected the ball off his hip into the goal for the 1st goal, and the match ended several minutes later, 1-0, Internationals. The Internationals would carry play for most of the 2nd half, shooting 7 times on goal and setting up 2 corner kick opportunities while committing 9 fouls (including 1 handball and a YC shown to Nick V. for a hard foul). At about the 12 minute mark, Skylar sent another well-placed corner kick into the box where Ben N. timed his leap up in the air to head strike the ball into the net for the 2nd goal. Alas, at about the 35 minute mark, the Burn would strike their first and only goal off of a corner kick which was well-placed in the box and found the back of the net beyond Seth’s grasp. Just 4 minutes later at about the 39 minute mark, Martin S. rcvd a ball in the middle about 25 yards out and served a nice pass to Nathaniel H. around 18 yards out who then turned, dribbled a couple of steps past defenders and easily struck in the 3rd goal, and the match ended, 3-1, Internationals.
The GSA Phoenix and Internationals were tied with 7 points each (2-0-1), but the Phoenix edged out the Internationals in the tie-breaker Fewest Goals Allowed and went on to defeat the Freestate Titans (Elite) in the Final, 2-1, on PK’s after a 1-1 tie in a rain-shortened 2 x 20 minute halves and no OT’s. Congratulations, GSA Phoenix – well done!
