Bethesda Internationals

2 Jun. '07. On a hot, mostly sunny morning at the MD Soccer Plex, the Internationals faced the storied Roadrunners for the 2nd year in a row in the MD State Championship match on the Stadium field for the first time. The Internationals were blanked by the Roadrunners in last year's contest, 0-2. The Roadrunners were fresh off of a US Club Soccer National Cup VI Region A Championship last weekend, while the Internationals had a disappointing outing in the Potomac Memorial tournament, failing to notch a single goal. The Internationals took the kick off in the first half and distributed the ball well, controlling the mid-field for most of the first half. The RR's would take (7) shots on goal and two corner kick opportunities which all were unsuccessful while committing (7) fouls (including 2 offsides). The RR's strong defense held the Internationals to just one shot on goal and two unsuccessful corner kick opportunities while committing eight fouls -- but, the Internationals would find the back of the net first, and its first goal against the talented RR's in 4-5 previous matches. At about the (38) minute mark, Vitalis sent a service from about 25 yards out to the left into the box and the ball deflected off of Scott to the far post where Roque was open to fire in the shot past a surprised National ODP GK, Samir, and the half ended, 1-0, Internationals. As last year's MD State Champion, the Roadrunners showed their mettle and came out in the second half much more focused, poised and determined, controlling play for most of the half. At about the (3) minute mark, similar to the Internationals' first-half goal, a service cross was launched from the left side into the box where a streaking and unmarked RR player, Chris, found the ball at his feet near the far post and struck in the easy equalizer goal past a surprised Joe/GK. The RR's would shoot just (4) times on goal and create one corner kick opportunity while committing (11) fouls (including a YC shown to #4, Fabio, for a hard foul from behind on Skylar, and 1 handball), and the go ahead goal would come at about the (12) minute mark off of a free kick set play. After a foul by Inter, Paul sent a free kick from about 35 yards out to the right into the box where a RR player timed his leap to head the ball past Joe/GK who could only look at the ball zip past his right into the net. Several minutes later, Ebo sent a hopeful game-tieing blast from about 25 yards out on the left which sailed high on target towards the upper cross bar and surely would've went in had not Samir showed his National GK ability by leaping up and tipping the ball just over the cross-bar and saving the goal. The Internationals had their chances, shooting (4) times on goal and setting up (6) corner kick situations while committing (5) fouls (including 1 offsides), but could not finish and the match ended, 2-1, Roadrunners. Congratulations to the Bethesda Roadrunners on achieving their 3rd Maryland State Championship in the last four years, and good luck in the Regionals in Portland, ME, in two weeks. The Internationals hope to duplicate the RR's US Club Soccer success by its participation in the US Club Soccer National Cup VI Region E event in VA Beach in two weeks.