Bethesda Internationals

29 Apr. '06. Once again Inter trekked up to the Harford County Polo Grounds to play a Round 3 Quarter-Final against the MSC Badgers, and this time the weather cooperated nicely with bright and sunny skies, and the fields were in great shape. The Badgers proved to be quite a hardworking, doggedly determined team with strong mid-field play, and they were relentless in pressuring and challenging Inter players, causing numerous errant balls that were hastily released which created counter-attack opportunities by the Badgers. However, in the 1st half, the Badgers were unable to mount any serious offensive threat as they could not penetrate Inter's strong defensive backfield except for 1-2 harmless through balls that Nat easily scooped up. The Badger's hard, physical play resulted in 11 fouls and 1 yellow card on #8. Inter committed 9 fouls (2 handballs), and managed 7 shots on goal with 1 corner kick opportunity. At about the 19 minute mark, after a foul by the Badgers, Skylar launched a direct kick from about 35 yards out slightly left of center into the goal mouth where Ben leaped up and headed the ball towards the goal, but it hit the cross bar and deflected back out into the goal mouth straight to Ebo who kicked in the 1st goal of the match. The Badgers were limited to just 2 unsuccessful free kicks and one shot on goal which sailed high and wide left of goal in the last minute of the half. The Badger's GK made a great stop/save around the 23 minute mark after Vitalis fired a hard, laser shot directly at the GK. The 2nd half was much of the same hard, physical play by the Badgers, who committed 7 fouls (1 handball) with 2 yellow cards shown to #2 and #7. Inter played much more aggressvely in the 2nd half, committing 9 fouls (1 handball), but could only manage just 2 shots on goal and created 2 corner kick opportunities which were all unsuccessful. Although the Badgers were only able to take 3 shots on goal (1 free kick), they succeeded in breaking through Inter's backfield on a counter-attack after an errant pass. At about the 15 minute mark, a Badger player maneuvered behind Inter's defenders deep towards the right side of the goal near the end line and fired a sharp, acute-angled shot past Nat (who was guarding the right post) which somehow managed to find the far left side of the net to even the score at 1-1, and the match went into 2 x 10 minute OT periods. In the 1st OT, Inter managed 4 shots on goal and committed 1 offsides foul, while the Badgers were held in check with no shots taken with 3 fouls (1 handball). At about the 2 minute mark, Vitalis received a pass (from Roque?) about 18 yards out on the right, dribbled a few yards ahead and to the left side of the goal mouth, turned and fired in a blast to the net for Inter's 2nd goal. Just 2 minutes later, Glenn was fouled in the box, and Vitalis sent a hard, low PK shot past the GK for Inter's 3rd goal. In the 2nd OT, the Badgers managed 1 unsuccessful shot on goal and committed 3 fouls. Inter took 4 shots on goal (1 direct) and 2 corner kicks which were all unsuccessful, and committed 2 fouls. End of match, 3-1, Inter. Credit the Badgers for a valiant effort in contending well in this match. Inter will face them again in league play in a few short weeks.