Bethesda Internationals

19 May '07. The Internationals were back out at the SoccerPlex on a fiercely windy but mostly sunny day and this time to play its friends from PG County & former NCSL/D1 rivals, Freestate Titans, who have been playing in the Region I Premier League over the past two spring seasons. Many of the Titans & Internationals players are teammates on the MD 91 and MD 92 ODP squads, and most everyone expected this match to be a hard-fought, evenly-played and entertaining game -- and, indeed it was from start to finish. The Internationals kicked off into the strong cross-wind and their attack would be quickly thwarted by the Titans whose speed of play and counter-attacking would keep the Internationals on their heels for much of the first half. The Internationals would manage just (2) shots on goal and (3) corner kicks but all were unsuccessful while committing six fouls (including 1 handball). The Titans were able to shoot (4) times on goal and create (3) corner kick opportunities, but could not finish while committing two fouls and the half ended, 0-0. With the cross-wind slightly to their backs in the second half, the Internationals managed (3) shots on goal and (5) corner kick opportunities while committing 4 fouls (including 1 offsides). The first goal would come at the 16 minute mark after Scott raced down a long ball, and was able to beat the Titans defender to the ball, collected it and passed back to Skylar around 25 yards on the right who then served a perfectly placed ball into the box where a streaking Ebo ran onto the ball striking in the goal past their excellent GK, Kyle. The Titans would out shoot Inter with (5) shots on goal and (1) corner kick while committing 4 fouls, and they would be rewarded with the equalizer goal at the 29 minute mark when Jeremy sent a nicely placed ball into Inter's goal mouth about 5-6 yards out where Mike was in perfect position to chest trap the ball to the turf, turn and fire in a blast to the left of Joe who could do nothing to stop the well-placed hard shot, and the match ended in regulation time, 1-1. In the first OT period with the cross-wind, the Titans would manage no shots on goal with just (1) corner kick while committing two fouls including a foul from behind on Scott on a break-away but no card shown. The Internationals would take just (2) shots on goal and (1) corner kick which were all unsuccessful while committing one foul. The officials stopped the 1st OT at the ten minute mark, but then after realizing it should be (15) minute OT, re-started for another five minutes, and the 1st OT ended without any score. In the 2nd OT, Inter's defense held the Titans to no shots or corner kicks taken while committing (1) foul, while the Internationals took (4) shots on goal, including a hard shot by Vitalis which hit the cross-bar, deflected down and away from the goal, and another close-in shot by Scott which went just wide while committing two fouls and the 2nd OT ended scoreless with ensuing PK's to follow. The Titans made their first attempt, and Nicholas also made his 1st attempt. Joe made a great stop/save on the Titans' 2nd attempt, and Skylar made his 2nd shot. The Titans missed high over the cross-bar on the 3rd attempt, and Ben made the 3rd PK for Inter. The Titans made the 4th attempt, and Martin's 4th attempt was stopped by Kyle. And, Joe made a great stop/save on the the Titan's 5th attempt by Mike, and the Internationals prevailed in PK's, 3-2. The Internationals (formerly Inter Bethesda) have always enjoyed playing the talented Titans through the years, winning some and losing some and look forward to the next exciting contest whether in league, tournament or next year's MD State Cup play. In the MD State Cup Final on 2dn June, the Internationals will play its other good friends and former NCSL/D1 rivals, Bethesda Roadrunners, who have also been playing Region I Premier League for the last two spring seasons, and who prevailed over the Westminster Black Wolves today in the other Semi-Final match, 5-0.