Bethesda Internationals

3 Sep. '06. Thanks to Tropical Storm Ernesto dumping several inches of rain in the area late Friday night and early Saturday morning, many of the fields/venues were closed for play on Sat., 9/2, including the normally superb Freeman fields at OBGC Community Park. The soggy but playable Freeman fields opened up for play on Sun., 9/3, with partly cloudy skies, and the first match found the Internationals in their new Adidas black uniforms once again facing the pesky MSC Badgers for the 4th time in the past 4-5 months, including MD State cup, NCSL Spring 2006 & Potomac Memorial 2006. For the first 5-6 minutes of play, the Internationals appeared to be a bit slow to the ball and unsure of themselves, but then picked up momentum shooting 9 times on goal with 3 corner kicks while committing 4 fouls. At about the 10 minute mark, Skylar sent a free kick from 25 yards on the right into the box about 4-6 yards where Nicholas was in perfect position to time a well placed header ball into the net for the 1st goal. The Internationals' strong defense held the Badgers to just a single shot on goal which went awry and no corners taken while committing 5 fouls with 1 YC being shown to number 10. In the second half, the defense held the Badgers to no shots taken or any corner kicks while committing 2 fouls. The Internationals managed 5 shots on goal and no corners while committing 6 fouls (including 1 offsides). At about the 11 minute mark, Vitalis was fouled in the box and struck a hard PK into the net for the second goal, and the match ended later, 2-nil, Internationals. In the second match, the Internationals faced its good friends from VA, FCH Premier AC 91W, wearing new navy blue Nike uniforms identical to those worn by the old Inter Bethesda before moving to Potomac SA in the summer. The Internationals switched to their white jerseys and at the 1 minute mark after kick off, Skylar crossed a well-placed ball from the right corner into the goal mouth to about 6 yards on the left where Ebo struck in the 1st goal past the surprised GK. The Internationals played with great intensity and worked hard defensively, creating numerous counter-attack opportunities. The Internationals took 2 more shots on goal and both were successful. At about the 15 minute mark, Ebo sent a cross from the left corner into the box about 6 yards where Vitalis struck in the 2nd goal of the match. Just two minutes later, at about the 17 minute mark, Roque served a nice ball just inside the 18 yard line into the box to Vitalis at about 6 yards who then turned and fired in the 3rd goal of the half. The Internationals committed 9 fouls (inlcuding 4 offsides and 1 handball). The Premier AC 91W was limited to just 1 shot on goal and 1 corner kick which were both unsuccessful while committing 2 fouls. In the second half, the Internationals setup 3 shots on goal and 1 corner kick while committing 7 fouls (including 4 offsides). At about the 7 minute mark, Vitalis served a ball into the box about 6 yards where Nick A. timed his charging header to strike in the 4th goal of the match. The defense allowed just 1 shot on goal and no corners by Premier AC 91W, and they committed 5 fouls. The match ended later, 4-nil, Internationals.