Bethesda Internationals

12 Jun. '06. After a rainy start of the day in the morning, the precipitation ceased and brilliant sun filled the skies for a pleasant early evening match against our sister team from BSC, Bethesda Ajax, who took it on the chin this season going winless with a couple of ties. Coach Pete configured the lineup/substitutions to give players opportunity to play around in positions which some were unaccustomed to or with limited PT exposure in the past. The Ajax played hard, committing 10 fouls in the 1st half with YC's being shown to #9 and #10. Inter's strong backline denied the Ajax from taking any shots on goal, and 1 unsuccessful corner kick opportunity. Inter committed just 4 fouls, and took 6 shots on goal. At about the 18 minute mark, Nat rcvd a pass in the Ajax's goal mouth -- from Sam about 25 yards out to the right -- turned, dribbled to his left and then flicked a short pass over to Mati near the goal who then struck in Inter's 1st goal of the half. In the 2nd half, Inter launched a barrage of 9 shots on goal, including two nice headers which just missed their mark by Nicholas & Tomiwa off of free kicks by Skylar after fouls by Ajax; and, also created 2 unsuccessful corner kick opportunities & committed 6 fouls (inlcuding 1 offsides). Inter's strong D once again shut down the Ajax except for a weak shot late in the 2nd half that went awry, and a successful PK after a foul in the box by Inter on an Ajax player. The Ajax also created 2 unsuccessful corner kick opportunities, and committed 9 fouls (including 1 offsides). At about the 12 minute mark, after a foul by Ajax, Skylar sent a perfectly placed free kick from about 35 yards out to the right into the goal mouth where Mati head-flicked the ball towards the net but it sailed wide left where an alert Ebo possessed the ball and fired in a hard shot past the surprised GK for Inter's 2nd goal. Just 1 minute later, at the 13th minute mark, after a bump foul by Nicholas on an Ajax player in the box, the Ajax sent a low, crisp PK shot to the left, and Nat guessed correctly diving to his right but just missed the ball as it sailed into the net for the Ajax's only score of the match. At about the 18 minute mark, Vitalis rcvd a pass from (?) about 30 yards out on the left, dribbled upfield 10-15 yards and then made an angular, thread-the-needle pass to the right in towards the goal mouth where Nichoals perfectly timed his break from the pack towards the goal and slammed in Inter's 3rd goal of the match, and Inter prevailed, 3-nil, earning its first D1 Crown after coming close the last 2 seasons in second place.