Bethesda Internationals

24 Apr. 05. On a chilly and blustery day at the nice MD Soccer Plex, Inter played the always tough and talented MATT Crew. It was a very entertaining match with both teams attacking and countering, moving the ball very well up and down the field. Both teams could manage only 1 shot on goal in the 1st half, with Inter creating 4 corner kick opportunities to the Crew's single attempt. The Crew are an aggressive and very physical team, committing 8 fouls to Inter's 5. At about the 25 minute mark, MATT Crew sent their only corner kick high into the goal mouth where Nat jumped up and caught the ball just off the goal line, and as he was coming down a MATT Crew player #4 (who later was awarded a yellow card in the 2nd half) pushed Nat back across the goal line into the goal but Nat was able to stretch out and hold the ball outside the the goal line; however, the side AR made the wrong call that MATT Crew should be awarded a goal since Nat's body was inside the goal -- but the ball was held outside. Indeed, the official's decision was a very questionable call that perhaps might not have been made in this tightly and evenly contested match. Also, no call was made on the #4 for pushing Nat! Although Inter stepped up its attacking in the 2nd half, managing 4 SOG's and 1 CK compared to MATT Crew's 3 SOG's and no CK's, both teams continued their physcial play with Inter committing 8 fouls and MATT Crew committing 6 and 1 YC to #4. Nonetheless, Inter was unable to finish and the match ended with MATT Crew earning the win thanks to the side official's questionable call. But, that is soccer...