Bethesda Internationals

27 Dec. '06. On a cold (40's), windy morning in Winter Garden, FL, that started out with what could've been a distrastrous start to the Internationals' first participation in the top tournament in the country, fate would be ultimately kind and the Internationals played well in their first match, prevailing over the strong CASL Elite (NC) team, 2-0. Although the team left the hotel with plenty of time to make the 25 minute drive to Winter Garden from Kissimmee and arrive early enough to warm-up before the 8:30am kick off, most families who took the I4 route were immediately caught in a massive standstill traffic jam due to an accident which just occurred only minutes earlier. After going nowhere for 15-20 minutes and calling around between parents to discuss alternative options, Chuck, who was riding with Jorge and several players, jumped out of the stopped car, collected 8 players who were in nearby stopped cars, dashed across the highway in between cars with their bags in hand, climbed up the hill near an overpass and hiked a 1-2 miles back to the hotel to pick up Chuck's rental car and head to Winter Garden via an alternate route, arriving just 10 minutes before the delayed kickoff. Everyone recounted later that they felt like they were crossing the border into the US illegally. In the first half, the CASL Elite had the wind to their backs and the GK sent long punts deep into the Internationals' side and CASL penetrated deep a number of times, shooting 5 times on goal, creating 3 corner kick opportunities but would not finish while committing 4 fouls. The Internationals were held to just 2 shots on goal and no corner kicks which were unsuccessful while committing 6 fouls (including 1 offsides), and the half ended scoreless. The Internationals stepped up the intensity in the 2nd half with the wind at their backs, and the strong defense held the CASL Elite team to just 2 shots on goal and 3 corner kicks which went awry. CASL committed 6 fouls, including a hard foul by #3 which resulted in a YC being shown. The Internationals committed 3 fouls and would take 5 shots on goal and 1 corner kick, scoring on two opportunities. At about the 11 minute mark, after a foul by CASL, Skylar launched a free kick from about 25 yards out on the right into the goal mouth about 6 yards where Ebo possessed the ball, turned and fired in the 1st goal. After a collision between Skylar and a CASL player at about the 29 minute mark, the CASL player got up and stepped on Skylar's leg in front of the side official but no foul was called or card shown, and Skylar left the game in pain. Only 2 minutes later, Ebo received a pass on the left and dribbled down into the back right end line of CASL and flicked the ball forward into the goal mouth where Vitalis attempted to collect the ball but was pulled to the turf by a CASL player and a PK was awarded, which Vitalis confidently sent to the back of net for the Internationals' 2nd goal, and the match ended several minutes later, 2-nil, Internationals. 28 Dec. '06. On a warmer (60's) and less windy afternoon, the second match pitted the Internationals against the Dallas Texans 92 Red (TX-N), last year's Showcase winner, Region 3 Champ and USYSA National Finalist. The Texans were every bit of what would be expected from a team with such impressive credentials. The Internationals hung tough with the strong Dallas team before they would score at about the 27 minute mark. The Texans are very physical and counter attack superbly, moving their backs up to help control the mid-field and quickly distribute the ball upfield to streaking players moving into open space. The Texans would shoot 8 times on goal and setup 4 corner kick opportunities while committing 4 fouls (including 2 offsides). The Texans strong defense denied the Internationals from taking any shots on goal or corner kicks while they committed just 3 fouls. At about the 27 minute mark, Dallas sent a high arcing ball into the goal mouth close to the net. Joe came out to punch the ball out from harms way but it wasn't hit (squarely) and deflected backwards down near the goal line where an alert Dallas player tapped in the 1st goal. Just 2 mintues later, Dallas counter-attacked and a Texan player raced down the left line where he was ineffectively defended in the right back area. As he turned towards goal, he passed to his teammate who was unmarked at about 20 yards center where he easily scored on a 1v1 against Joe. At about the 34 minute mark, after a strong, long throw-in into the goal mouth from the right side line deep into the Internationals' side, a melee ensued to clear the ball out but a Texan player was able to put a head on the ball and notch the Texan's 3rd goal, and the half ended, 3-0, Dallas. In the second half, the Texans were held to 2 shots on goal which were unsuccessful, including a hard shot which Joe made a great save but Dallas was called offsides nonetheless. Dallas setup 7 corner kick situations but would not convert, and committed 7 fouls (including 2 offsides). Two YC's were awarded to #6 for USB and #7. Skylar also received a YC for USB with #6. The Internationals were able to break through to shoot twice on goal and create 2 corner kick opportunities, but all went awry/unsuccessful while committing 2 fouls (including 1 offsides), and the match ended, 3-nil, Texans. 29 Dec. '06. Under the lights on the superb Hess Sports Fields at Wide World of Sports with intermittment light to moderate rainshowers, the Internationals faced the little known team from SC, Columbia United FC Elite. The Elite gave the Dallas Texans a run for their money in the 1st round match, initially leading by 1-0, before finally succombing to the strong Texans team, 1-3. But, the Elite would rebound and edge CASL Elite in the 2nd round match, 1-0. The Internationals knew that they would be in for a dogfight with the SC team, and it would prove to be a very challenging but entertaining match indeed. The start was delayed due to the absence of a 2nd AR and players were kept waiting in lineup formation until the official arrived 15 minutes after the scheduled kick-off time of 6:30pm. The 1st half was intensely played by both teams who moved the ball well, attacking and counter-attacking back and forth. The Elite would take 3 shots on goal and setup 3 corner kick opportunities which were all unsuccessful while committing 4 fouls (including 1 handball) with 1 YC being shown to #5 for a hard foul. The Internationals changed their normal 4-5-1 configuration to a 4-3-3 with Gerald, Vitalis and Skylar up top to create more offensive opportunities, and managed 7 shots on goal with 1 corner kick but were unable to finish while committing 5 fouls (including 1 handball), and the half ended scoreless. The intensity would not let up in the second half and although the Elite managed 5 shots on goal and 2 corner kick opportunities -- and would score an equalizer goal -- while committing 3 fouls (including 1 handball) with a YC being shown to #7 for a hard foul, the Internationals controlled play for most of the second half. The Internationals would shoot 3 times on goal and create 1 corner kick opportunity while committing 6 fouls. At about the 21 minute mark, after a foul by #7 (on Skylar), Skylar launched a nice free kick from 18 yards out on the right which sailed into the goal mouth about 6 yards out where Vitalis timed his leap in the air to head the ball into the net past the surprised GK. However, late in the 2nd half at about the 34 minute mark, the Elite counter-attacked with a long ball sent upfield which sailed past the back 4 who were flat and pushed up too far flat while a streaking Elite player raced on past the defenders, collected the ball and fired a blast past Joe into the left corner of the net for the equalizer goal, and the match ended several minutes later, 1-1. 30 Dec. '06. Congratulations to the Bethesda Roadrunners who prevailed over Solar 92 (TX-N), 2-1, to win the Showcase Championship. The RR's also prevailed over the Dallas Texans 92 Red in the Semi-Final, 3-1.