Bethesda Internationals

26 Apr. ’08. Unlike past years where the Semi-Final matches were customarily held at the nearby SoccerPlex, this year’s Semi’s would be held at Harford County Polo Grounds – another 150 mile round trip for players/families for the 3rd time during the State cup event. And, instead of the forecasted cloudy skies and temps in the low-70’s, the weather was warm with mostly sunny skies and temps in the low-80’s. In the 1st half, Inter’s vaunted defense held the Bays team to just one corner kick which was unsuccessful while committing three fouls (including 2 handballs). Inter created many scoring opportunities including a nice feed from Nat into the goal mouth where Ben’s header missed wide, and, after Vitalis rcvd a nice pass up field and broke through the last defender 1v1 with the GK, V's shot was deflected by the GK and bounced out to Nate who fired on goal but the GK made a good save. Inter would take a total of (9) shots on goal with all missing their target wide/high except the GK save, and also (1) corner kick which was unsuccessful while committing (9) fouls (including 2 handballs and 2 offsides), and the half ended precariously scoreless. The 2nd half was much of the same with the Internationals controlling most of the play, although the Bays managed (2) shots on goal including a dangerous close-in shot near the left side post which Seth ably smothered and the other missed its mark wide. The Bays also created two corner kick situations but were unsuccessful while committing (3) fouls. Inter kept up its offensive attack, shooting (7) times on goal and creating (2) corner kick opportunities while committing just (1) foul. At about the (26) minute mark, Ebo launched a CK from the left corner into the box about 16 yards out center where Nate headed the ball closer into the goal mouth where Nat chest-trapped the ball to the ground and slammed in the first goal as the Bays coach was yelling for a handball by Inter in the box which did not appear to have occurred and was not called by the Center Ref. Vitalis served a nice ball from the left about 22 yards out into the box near the far post where Skylar made a lunging header attempt but it just missed over the cross bar. At about the (32) minute mark, Skylar sent a nice cross from near the right sideline about 22-25 yards out into the box around 18 yards center where Pat headed the ball over to Ebo near the center of the goal mouth who chest-trapped the ball to the ground and fired a left-footed shot past the GK, and the match ended several minutes later, 2-0, Internationals. Inter will advance to the Final on 31 May where it will face its friends from PG County, Freestate Titans, who bested the Bethesda Ajax, 3-0, in the other Semi-Final action.