Bethesda Internationals

06 Nov. '05. On a mostly cloudy day with strong winds once again but with warm temps at the MD Soccer Plex, Inter battled the always tough FCH Premier AC 91W team for the 2nd time in two months. After losing to Inter, 1-4, in the Champ match of the Washington Fall Classic during Labor Day weekend, the FCH Premier team appeared to be inspired to avenge that loss and to solidify its 3rd Place standing with a victory over Inter. After losing the coin toss, Inter kicked off into the wind but the FCH Premier worked hard with its defenders challenging/pressuring Inter, counter-attacking and setting up 3 shots on goal with 1 corner kick in the first half while committing 5 fouls. Inter managed 5 shots on goal which did not find the net and created 3 corner kick opportunities while committing no fouls but could not finish. At about the 18 minute mark, a ball in the air around mid-center to the right was challenged simultaneoulsy by Inter and FCH Premier and, unluckily, it was flicked/headed forward towards Inter's goal mouth area about 25 yards to the right where it landed at the feet of Torian who quickly turned and blasted in a left-footed strike into the left side of the net past Nat who had no chance to stop the rocket shot with the wind. Inter had the wind at their backs in the second half, but the FCH Premier defenders allowed just 3 shots on goal -- although Inter created 3 corner kick opportunties, the magical header goals delivered in previous matches didn't find the net today. Inter committed 3 fouls while FCH Premier committed 6 fouls, and made 3 hard shots on goal. Nat made two brilliant saves, one on a high hard shot towards the upper center net and punched/deflected it over the crossbar, and stopped another a hard shot dead on goal. Nat also alertly came out of the box to challenge/kick away a ball that was sent long over the defense for a potential break-away 1v1 attempt. Congratulations to FCH Premier for up-ending Inter and earning 3rd Place in D1 behind Inter, and Congratulations to the RRs who regained the lead and D1 Championship after Inter's short-lived lead after last week's results.