Bethesda Internationals

19 Apr. '08. Bad day at black rock! It was the last two games of Region I Premier today on a bright, sunny but breezy day at Kirkwood SC in New Castle, DE, and LMSC Velez, YMS Xplosion & the Internationals were all tied with identical 4-0-1 records. All Region 1 Premier teams would play a season-ending double-header today with LMSC Velez and YMS Xplosion contending while the Internationals would face the 1-4-0 Jersey team whose defense gave up (12) goals but its offense finished a respectable (7) goals in the last five matches -- not a team to be taken lightly with so much at stake with a chance for Inter to either win the Premier league in its inaugural participation or at least advance to the playoffs with a 2nd Place finish. Two weeks ago at the Icahn Stadium in Manhattan, starting-gun shots could be heard from inside the stadium where ongoing track races were being held simultaneous to the match with Manhattan Phoenix and Buffalo United on a turf field adjacent to the complex.  Today, at Kirkwood SC, real gun shots could be heard throught the day from across River Rd. at the nearby Ommelanden skeet and trap shooting range. The NJ’s defense was tenacious and aggressive, challenging the ball on every play. At about the (3) minute mark off of a counter-attack, Inter’s right side collapsed too far into the middle leaving the right flank exposed for a NJ player to run into space and receive a switched ball but it was too late by the time Seth came out to challenge the player 1v1 and the shot easily sailed past Seth into the net. Inter was on its heels at the opening bels but the defense would hold their ground for the rest of the half, allowing no further shots or corners while the NJ Knights committed (8) fouls including one offsides. Inter had its chances, shooting (3) times including a close-in shot by Brian that missed early in the first half and a corner kick which was unsuccessful while committing (6) fouls (including 1 high kick, 1 handball and 1 offsides), and the half ended, 1-0, NJ Knights. The NJ Knights kept up their intense pressuring the ball and held Inter to just one shot on goal by Patrick M. which sailed high and wide left. Although Inter held the Knights to just one shot on goal, they created (4) corner kick opportunities but all went awry while committing (9) fouls (including a YC shown to #19 for a trip on Jamie). Inter committed (7) fouls (including 2 offsides and a YC shown to Skylar for a trip), and the match ended, 1-0, NJ Knights Fire. The other match between LMSC and YMS ended a few minutes earlier in a 0-0 tie, and to at least advance into the playoffs, Inter desperately needed a Win over its friends from PAE whom it has bested just once and tied once in its many contests throughout the seasons which YMS holds the upper hand. The breezy cross wind was at Inter’s back in the first half, but Inter would not be able to capitalize with the advantage. Again at the (3) minute mark as in the first contest, Inter’s defense mis-cleared a ball away and it dropped at the feet of a YMS player about 15 yards out center who struck a hard, low shot on goal, but as Seth dropped down to clutch the ball, it slipped underneath his grasp and into the net for the go-ahead goal. Inter held YMS to just one more shot which went wide and two corner kicks which were unsuccessful. YMS played very physically, although they did not pressure/challenge the ball as tightly as did the NJ team, and they committed (12) fouls (including 1 offsides). YMS’ strong defense denied Inter from any shooting/scoring threat outside of a DK by Nat that missed wide, and one corner kick which was unsuccessful. Inter committed just two fouls and the first half ended, 1-0, YMS. In the 2nd half, at about the (3) minute mark, a ball by YMS was lofted into Inter’s goal mouth for an easy grab by Seth, but unluckily as he planted his foot into the turf to push off and move forward to catch the ball, he slipped to the turf and the ball bounced over him and rolled into the open net. Inter’s defense held YMS to just one other real shot on goal which went wide while YMS committed (10) fouls including a YC shown to #22 for a hard foul. Inter had its chances with a shot by Nate which went high and wide, and the GK easily stopped a shot by Brian from about 18 yards out to the right while Inter committed (8) fouls. In another unlucky break for Inter, a ball which was clearly last-touched by YMS rolled into Inter’s goal mouth and Seth calmly watched it go out of bounds behind the End line, however, the center official incredulously called a corner kick at about the (33) minute mark. The ball was lofted perfectly into the goal mouth about 6-8 yards out center and a melee/scrum ensued but Inter could not clear the ball away before a YMS player possessed the ball and spun-turn to fire a shot to the right of Seth into the lower corner of the net, and the match ended, 3-0, YMS.

In the other 2nd game action, our other friends from PAE, LMSC Velez, prevailed over the Jersey Knights Fire, 4-0; thus, both LMSC Velez and YMS Xplosion ended up with identical 5-0-2 records, however, by virtue of Region 1 tie-breaker rules, LMSC Velez would be awarded 1st Place South Division Champs while YMS finished in 2nd Place. Congratulations to LMSC Velez and good luck in the upcoming playoffs against the 2nd Place team from the North Division, Western United; and, good luck to YMS who will face our other friends form NYE, Hota Bavarian, winner of the North Division. Inter finished in 3rd place in the South Division while our friends from PG County, Freestate Elite, ended in 4th place.

13 Apr. '08. Out at the Harford County Polo Grounds on a mostly cloudy, windy and chill day, the Internationals matched up in Round 2 play against our NCSL friends, MSC Predators, who played Inter very strong in a close, tight match in Round 3 play last year but after trailing, 0-1, the internationals pulled out a W in the final minutes of the 2nd half, 2-1. Today's match would be much different, partly since the Internationals have added several quality players over the course of the year, while the Predators have lost several quality players. Inter's strong defense stymied the Predators in the 1st half, holding them to just a single shot on goal which went awry while committing (5) fouls. Inter would take (4) shots on goal and (2) corner kicks while committing (4) fouls. At about the (18) minute mark, Roque sent a nice cross from the left into the box where Ebo alertly possessed the ball and fired in a shot to the back of the net. At about the (34) minute mark, Nathaniel was fouled in the box which was a judgmental call that could've not been called. Ebo stepped up and fired the PK to the left side of the net past the GK, and Inter was up, 2-0, at the half. In the 2nd half, Inter's stingy defense again held the Predators to just (1) shot on goal which was unsuccessful while committing (7) fouls (including 1 hand ball). The Internationals kept up their offensive attack/counter-attacks and would shoot (8) times on goal while committing (6) fouls (including 1 offsides). At about the (15) minute mark, Nathaniel worked the ball upfield on the left and sliced a nice pass into the goal mouth to Vitalis around (18) yards out -- and V moved the ball to his right and then cut it to his left to an open crease where he fired in a hard shot to put Inter up, 3-0. At about the (20) minute mark, Fabio took a ball upfield on the left and sent a pretty pass into the goal mouth to Nathaniel who was able to work his way forward a few yards and then blasted a shot into the net for Inter's 4th goal. Around the (30) minute mark, Roque sent a nice pass into the box from the right and Nathaniel collected the ball, turned and fired a hard shot into the net, and the game ended several minutes later, 5-0, Internationals.