Bethesda Internationals

21 Apr. '07. Off of a BYE in Round 1 last week, the Internationals first State Cup play action in Round 2 pitted them against its sister team, Cougars 92, out at the Harford Polo Grounds in Jarretsville, MD, on a splendid, mild spring day flooded with bright sunshine. The Cougars 92 advanced from Round 1 action last week, besting the Chesapeake SC, 2-0, and recently won the MSC Madness tournament at the SoccerPlex this past March, and is a strong contender in NCSL D1. With a moderate cross-wind to their backs in the first half, the Cougars played hard committing 7 fouls but were limited to just one header shot on goal by Nat which was easily caught by Joe and a single corner kick which went awry. Erik rcvd a YC for a hard foul on Nicholas. Likewise, the Internationals played hard but committed just 4 fouls (including 1 offsides), but could only muster one strong shot by Vitalis which went straight to and caught by the Cougars' fine GK, Stephan, and the half ended, 0-0. The Internationals would have the slight advantage of the cross-wind in the second half, as well as playing against a depleted squad of 10 Cougars after after a 2nd YC and automatic RC/ejection to Erik for a hard foul from behind on Vitalis just 2 minutes into the 2nd half. However, the Cougars would strike the first goal at the 16 minute mark off of a good service by Freddis into the box against the wind which Joe might've grabbed but Nick jumped up to head the ball away and it was not cleared far enough away, dropping to the feet of a Cougar who easily tapped in the goal. The Cougars would also take one corner kick which was unsuccessful while committing 4 fouls. The Internationals would shoot 4 times on goal and created 1 corner kick opportunity, finishing 3 times while committing 7 fouls (including 3 offsides). At about the 28 minute mark, Ebo launched a long ball from about 35 yards out to the left and into the box where Ben chested/controlled the ball and passed over to Scott who was streaking in towards the left side of the goal and deftly struck in the equalizer goal. Just two minutes later, Scott assisted the 2nd goal with a nice pass up front to Vitalis who slammed the ball to the net to put the Internationals up, 2-1. At about the 36 minute mark, Ebo sent another long ball up top to a streaking Scott and the Cougars defender, Max, made a short pass-back ball to the GK but Scott raced to the ball and collected it before it got to the GK, and then juked around the GK to tap in the 3rd goal and the match ended, 3-1, Internationals. The Internationals will face the MSC Predators who bested the MSC Revolution, 2-1, in Round 3 action tomorrow.