Bethesda Internationals

29 Mar. '08. After the earlier 1st match ended, players and families dispersed off of Randall’s Island to seek inside shelter/warmth & food in Manhattan and Brooklyn before the 2nd match later against Buffalo United Elite (NYW) at 4PM. Brian and his father went to visit Columbia U. and upon their return to pay the Triboro Bridge toll, unfortunately discovered that Bill’s wallet went missing – somewhere at Columbia U. Luckily, they had enough coins in the car to pay the toll to cross the bridge, and also luckily, Brian had his ATM card with him so they could find an ATM to get some cash to pay for bridge and other tolls on the way home again. The Buffalo United team prevailed as the Region I W. Appalachian Champs and NYW State Champs last year. The Internationals once again started on the 1st half of play against the still strong blowing wind. The Buffalo United players were very athletic and worked hard, pressuring the ball while committing (7) fouls. But, Inter’s strong defense stymied the Buffalo team, preventing them taking any shots or corners. The Internationals attempted (6) shots on goal and (2) corner kick opportunities while committing (7) fouls including 1 handball, 2 offsides and YC shown to Ben N. for foul on a Buffalo player from behind – just after not getting a call on Buffalo for clearly fouling Ben in the box only seconds earlier. At about the (4) minute mark, Nat sent a great pass from mid-field to Skylar upfield about 25 yards out on the left where he dribbled towards goal a few yards, turned with the ball to find space and fired a nice shot which sailed into the right side of the net to take the lead. The Buffalo GK made a couple of nice saves including a close-in shot by Skylar and the half ended, 1-0, Internationals. The 2nd half was all Internationals, although the Buffalo team would take (3) shots on goal and setup (1) corner kick but all were unsuccessful including a hard blast from about (18) yards out on the right but was deflected by Seth with another great save. The Buffalo team committed (7) fouls including a break-away foul in the box on Nathaniel H. at the (23) minute mark. Vitalis stepped up and took the PK which he easily made. Prior to V’s PK, at about the (10) minute mark, a melee ensued in the box to clear out a ball but Vitalis was in good position to strike in the goal. At about the (13) minute mark, Patrick passed back a nice ball from the right side around 18 yards out to Roque around 22-25 yards out who blasted the ball hard high towards goal just over the fingertips of the GK, striking the cross bar and bounced down to the turf and then upward onto the left side bar and then into the upper left corner of the net. At the (22) minute mark, Fabio passed a nice ball to Ben F. on the right about 18 yards out to right-center where he eluded a defender and found an open space to fire a shot past the Gk and into the net. With the wind at their backs, the Internationals would take (11) shots on goal, (5) corner kicks wile committing (6) fouls – all offsides! The Buffalo team was clearly frustrated and at the (29) minute mark the GK picked up a ball outside the box and a free kick was taken by Ebo who blasted in the shot over the wall of players and into the net, and the match ended several minutes later, 6-0, Internationals.

20 Mar. '08. After last year’s cancellation of the U15 games due to heavy rain and poor field conditions, the Internationals were eager to once again participate in the prestigious Jefferson Cup which attracts many top teams from around Region I-III – and college coaches. The Internationals faced the LAC St. Louis Lakers from Canada in its first preliminary match on the turf field at Striker Park. It was a sunny but very windy day and the strong wind was blowing across the turf. The Lakers worked very hard to pressure and challenge Inter players, committing (10) fouls including a YC to a Lakers player for a hard foul on V. and their offense was held by Inter’s strong defense to just (1) shot on goal which went awry. The Internationals committed (4) fouls including three offsides calls, and would shoot (3) times on goal and setup (4) corner kick opportunities but all were unsuccessful and the half ended, 0-0. The Lakers maintained their hard play in the 2nd half and would threaten early in the 1st minute after a cleared ball high in the air sailed backwards and Ben missed heading it away and it bounced precariously backwards towards goal as Matt scrambled/stumbled to try and clear the ball away but a Laker player got to it first about 18 yards on the right and slammed a hard shot on goal. Fortunately, Seth reacted quickly to make a diving, finger-tip save to his right and deflected the ball away. The Lakers committed (9) fouls including a YC shown to #5 for a hard foul on Ebo, and a RC shown to #8 for taking Scott down in the box on a breakaway at the 26 minute mark. Skylar stepped up and sent the PK shot to the back of the net to the right of the GK, and the Internationals went up, 1-0. The Lakers managed one more shot on goal and (2) corner kicks which were unsuccessful. The Internationals would take (6) shots on goal, including a shot close-in by Scott setup by Skylar on a nice through pass but the attempt was unsuccessful. The Internationals would commit (6) fouls including two offsides and a YC shown to Skylar for a soft foul, followed by a YC to Nat for USB/protesting, and the match ended, 1-0, Internationals.

21 Mar. ’08. In the 2nd preliminary match, the Internationals faced the strong JBS FC Premier Force team from New York who bested the Internationals at the Bethesda Thanksgiving last November in the final minute, 1-0. The wind was still blowing hard and the Internationals had the wind advantage at kickoff on another turf field. The Internationals' defense stymied JBS allowing no shots on goal, although (1) dangerous corner kick was taken but it did not find its mark Thanks to Seth’s quick reaction to jump up and punch it out of harms way. The JBS team committed (4) fouls including one handball, while the Internationals committed (6) fouls. The Internationls managed (4) shots on goal and (3) corner kick opportunities but would finish (1) goal. With just (1) minute left in the half, Roque sent a free kick from 25 yards on the left into the goal mouth where a melee ensued and the ball luckily bounced to Brian’s foot where he aptly struck in the ball to take the lead, 1-0. The JBS team had the wind at their backs in the 2nd half and played very aggressively, committing (8) fouls including a YC shown to #6 for a hard foul. JBS could manage only (2) corner kicks which were unsuccessful. The Internationals would take (3) shots on goal which two went awry and the JBS GK made a good save on the other attempt, and also (3) corner kicks were taken but to no avail. The Internationals committed (8) fouls including one high kick, and the match ended, 1-0, Internationals.

22 Mar. ’08. In the 3rd preliminary match, the Internationals matched up with Team Ohio (OHS Champs) on a grass field. It was a very sunny day and the winds calmed down for the most part but with occasional gusting which did not adversely affect the match. Both teams had beaten the Canada and New York teams, but the Ohio team had a (1) goal better goal-differential, so it was a must-win match for Inter if it would advance to the Final. Both teams attacked and counter-attacked with both defenses thwarting the other from finishing a goal. The Ohio team managed (2) shots on goal including a DK from about 30 yards out to the right which sailed into Seth’s clutched hands and (1) corner kick which was unsuccessful while committing (7) fouls including (1) handball and (1) offsides. The Internationals would take (2) shots on goal, one of which went awry and another which was stopped by the GK and (3) corner kicks which all were unsuccessful while committing (5) fouls inclulding (1) handball and (1) high kick, and the half ended, 0-0. In the 2nd half, both teams stepped up its attacking/counter-attacking. Team Ohio would take (3) shots on goal including a shot by an offsides player which no call was made and which surprised the defense & Seth that no call was made, allowing the player to take an easy shot on goal but luckily it went wide and just missed left of goal. Team Ohio would also create (3) corner kick opportunities which were unsuccessful while committing (7) fouls including YC’s shown to #11 and #9 for hard fouls. Inter managed (4) shots on goal and (1) corner kick but all went awry/unsuccessful while committing (5) fouls – and the match ended, 0-0. Team Ohio would advance to the Final the next day to face GFA 91 Crew, and prevailed as Champions, 1-0. Congratulations Team Ohio!

9 Mar. '08. Back out at Bishop McNamara HS on an early morning, bright, sunny and cold day with the strong winds still blowing hard, the Internationals matched up with the Kirkwood Nemesis (DE). The Nemesis had the wind to their backs in the 1st half and would take (3) shots on goal to no avail while committing (6) fouls (including 1 offsides). Inter would also take (3) shots on goal inclulding an early breakaway close-in the box but could not finish. The Internationals would committ (8) fouls (inclulding 4 offsides),and the half ended scoreless. In the 2nd half, Inter's vaunted defense held the Nemesis to no shots or corners while the Nemesis committed (7) fouls. The Internationals clearly played with much more intensity and precision in the 2nd half, moving the ball around well and would take (6) shots on goal and (6) corner kicks. Skylar rcvd a ball on the right and moved it upfield to the end line and sent a beauty of a cross arcross the goal mouth but no one was nearby to make the easy goal. Several minutes later, Vitalis sent a ball into the box where Brian struck it hard, hitting defender, and the ball bounced out/away where Scott's followup shot was deflected away from the net by the outstretched arms of the GK. At about the (37) minute mark, Inter's hard work would be rewarded with a fortuitious opportunity when Skylar rcvd a ball on the right and made a nice through ball pass to Nat in the middle about 25 yards out. Nat dribbled the ball forward a few yards and sent a hard blast towards the net which hit the GK in the head and bounced out to the right near the 18 yard line where Skylar was in a good position to strike the ball hard towards net, missing several defenders and the GK on its way into the net for Inter's game-winning goal, and the matched ended, 1-0, Internationals.

8 Mar. '08. It was a cold and fiercely windy day with on/off rain but sunny skies opened up for the Internationals' inaugural Region I Premier game with our longtime tournament foes LMSC Velez at Bishop McNamara HS in Forestville, MD. The Internationals kicked off with the strong wind at their backs but could manage just a single shot on goal which was a break-away ball to Scott who streaked into Velez box and dished off to Brian who was unable to finish the close-in goal as the GK and defender closed-in quickly to deflect the ball away. The strong wind hampered players from effectively striking the ball well, particularlly on free kicks where a holder was needed to hold the ball in place for the DK attempt. The Internationals committed (6) fouls (including 1 high kick and 1 handball). Velez penetrated deep into Inter's back line several times taking an early blast around the (5) minute which was unsucessful followed by a 2nd attempt around the (28) minute mark which went wide. Velez committed (10) fouls, and the half ended, 0-0. In the 2nd half, Velez had the strong wind to their backs and would launch (5) shots on goal including a break-away to a player clearly in an offsides position but no call made. Fortunately, no shots found their way home including (2) corner kick situations. Velez would commit (5) fouls (including 3 handballs). LMSC Velez defense held Inter to just (1) shot on goal which sailed wide. Inter committed (6) fouls (including 1 offsides and 1 handball), and the match ended scoreless, 0-0.

17 Feb. '08. After last week’s game with the MSC Predators was canceled due to adverse wind conditions, the Internationals were back in action at Covenant Park for its final game of the shortened Winter League season, and would face the U17/MSC Ice with several players from WJHS who Ebo knew from school and a lot of friendly 'jawing' ensued on the pitch. A number of Inter players were absent including coach Patrick and coach Pete who were away on a previous family commitment; Philip, Nat E. and Fabio were also absent due to previous committments, and Scott was still out rehabbing an inury. Branimir stepped in to sub for Pete and Marcel S. was also trying out for the day. The weather was cloudy with temps in the upper 40's and the wind was mild compared to last week. The first half was all Internationals with its staunch defense holding the Ice to no shots on goal and just (1) corner kick while committing (3) fouls. The Internationals moved the ball very well, making good crisp passes and often broke through Ice’s back line shooting (11) times on goal and created (5) corner kick opportunities while committing (4) fouls (including 1 hand ball and 1 offsides). Ben F. sent a nice pass upfield to a streaking Marcel on the right side who collected the ball and fired a hard shot on goal but their GK made a good athletic save. At about the 24 minute mark, Vitalis rcvd a ball on the left side, dribbled to the end-line and sent a blast across the goal mouth where Marcel was in position to easily strike in the 1st goal. Around the 31 minute mark, Nathaniel rcvd a ball in the middle around 25 yards and dribbled into the Ice’s box 1v1 on the GK but was fouled by a defender from behind and a resultant PK was awarded. Ebo stepped up and sent the sharp PK into the left upper corner and the half ended several minutes later, 2-1, Inter. Just 4 minutes into the 2nd half, Skylar collected a ball in the mid-field around 25 yards out, maneuvered to try and find an open player but when a crease opened up towards goal, he turned and fired a hard shot which sailed high over defenders, striking the inside of the left post and deflected into the net for Inter’s 3rd goal. The Ice stepped up their intensity in the 2nd half, playing more aggressively and would break through Inter’s defense on several occasions shooting (4) times on goal and creating (2) corner kicks but all were unsuccessfully while committing (8) fouls (including a YC shown to #55 for a hard foul). One of Ice’s shots was well placed on a 1v1 to goal but Seth made a good read and diving save to avert the almost-goal. Inter would take (5) shots on goal and (1) corner kick but could finished once while committing (5) fouls (including 1 offsides), and the match ended several minutes later, 3-0, Internationals.