Bethesda Internationals

5 Jan. '08. Back out at Covenant Park on a cloudy, overcast day with temps in the upper 40's, the Internationals faced the vaunted U17/SAC United, MD State Champs 2006 & 2007. Inter was without the services of much of its back line due to illness/injury or family commitments: Matt, Mati, Nicholas, Ben N., Philip, and Alex C. And, SAC was without its starting GK and its big, strong scoring threat, Jake Pace, who was away in a wrestling match. The 1st half was played mostly even with SAC taking 5 shots on goal and 1 corner kick in the first half without any success while committing 7 fouls (including 1 offsides and a YC shown to #14 for a push). Inter managed 2 shots on goal and setup 3 corner kicks but was unable to finish while committing 6 fouls (including 2 offisdes), and the 1st half ended scoreless. The 2nd half mirrored the first half for the most part with both teams penetrating deep into each other's goal area with SAC taking 5 shots on goal and 2 corner kicks but all were unsuccessfull while committing 7 fouls (including 4 offsides and a RC shown to #32 for a retalitory swing in frustration at Patrick for a push in the back). Inter would manage only 2 shots on goal and no corners while committing 6 fouls (inclulding 1 handball and 3 offsides, and a YC shown to Patrick for a push and to Ebo for kicking the ball away in frustration), and the match ended, 0-0.

29 Dec. '07.  In today's last match, the Internationals faced the Kendall Coalition White who upended the Michigan Wolves on Thu., 3-2.  It was a mid-day game at the Hess Fields at DWWS with bright sunshine, blue skies and warm temps, and Ben N. & Jamie returned to play from their red card suspension in game 1 vs. CASL, but Matt H. would not suit up to play due to concussion suffered in yesterday's match against the Wolves. The first half was played evenly with the Coalition taking 6 shots on goal while committing 5 fouls (including a YC shown to #26 for a hard foul on Patrick, and a YC shown to #9 for a hard foul on Skylar).  The Internationals would manage 8 shots on goal, including an almost-goal setup by Brian's head-flick of the ball in the Coalation goal area to Stephen H. who then  passed it back to Brian who then launched a left-footed strike from about 18 yards which sailed wide left of goal.  The Internationals also setup 2 corner kicks which went awry while committing 6 fouls (including 4 offsides and a YC shown to Jamie for a missed slide-tackle foul, and also to Vitalis for USB on the call); however, the Internationals were able to take the early lead at the 12 minute mark after a Coalition played pushed Jamie in the back in the goal area, and Vitalis struck in the PK and the half ended, 1-0, Internationals.  In the second half, the Coalition stepped up their offense attack and relentless counter-attacks, shooting 8 times on goal and would find the equalizer goal at the 2 minute mark off of a run by a Coalition player through the center of Inter's back line where he struck in a hard shot from about 10 yards out center.  Just 5 minutes later, a Coalition player deftly maneuvered in between Inter's left backline and took the ball to the end line where he then sent a low cross across the goal mouth to a teammate who was in good position to slam in the go ahead goal, 2-1, Coalition.  The Coalition committed 8 fouls (including 2 offsides), while the Internationals committed 7 fouls (including 4 offsides).  The Internationals managed 6 shots on goal and all but one went awry, including a nice attempted goal by Brian at the 26 minute mark after making some evasive moves on the Coalition defenders to send a hard shot towards goal from about 18 yards on the left which just missed wide of the left post.  But, the Internationals unlucky streak this tournament would end in the last minute of the matc at the 39th minute.  After a foul by the Coalition about 20 yards out on the left, Skylar and Ebo lined up to take the free kick.  Ebo ran up to the ball, feined the left-footed kick and then Skylar followed behind to crack the hard right-footed strike through a crease in the defense to find the back of the net, and the match ended in a 2-2 draw.

Footnote:  Congratulations to Vitalis for his selection as an All-Star player by coaches for his superior play during the  preliminary matches and invited by Chelsea FC along with 17 other players from the various teams in the Showcase Division to travel to the UK and train/compete with Chelsea youth next 27 Aug. - 2 Sep. '08.   Way to go V!

28 Dec . '07.  Back out at the nice Hess Fields at DWWS on a warm, sunny afternoon, the Internationals faced the Michigan Wolves, USYSA 2007 Champs, a superior team filled with many big and tall, talented players -- and, without its two starting backs, Ben N. and Jamie, as they would miss this big match due to red cards issued yesterday.  The Internationals knew they would be in for a huge battle against the Wolves who yesterday were upended by Kendall Coalition, 2-3, after leading, 2-0.  The first half was played evenly with the Wolves taking 4 shots on goal and setting up 1 corner kick opportunity which were all successful while committing 6 fouls.  The Internationals managed 2 shots on goal and 2 corner kicks which were all successful as well while committing 4 fouls, and the half ended scoreless, 0-0.  In the 2nd half, the Wolves stepped up their intensity and controlled play for most of the half, shooting 7 times on goal and created 11 corner kicks while committing 5 fouls (including a YC shown to #6 for a hard foul and a YC shown to #8 for USB).  The Internationals created several scoring opportunities with 2 shots on goal and 3 corner kicks but credit the Wolves defense for stopping the Internationals from finishing any goal.  The Internationals committed 3 fouls (including 1 offsides and 1 handball), with the officiating being far better than the 1st match vs. CASL -- except for an apparent wrong call for a foul by Inter in the box when in fact the Wolves player appeared to have stumbled to the turf by himself, touching the ball on the ground, but alas, a PK was awarded to the Wolves at the 28 minute mark -- and Seth guessed correctly, moving to his right to stop/deflect the hard shot off to the right behind the end line for a CK.  Then, came the dagger.  At the 79th minute with just 1 minute left (plus 1 minute stoppage), the Wolves mounted another attack sending a ball into the right back line which was uncleared as a defender fell to the turf and another Wolves player collected the ball and quickly switched it over the the right side/left back area to another player about 20 yards out who dribbled a couple of yards and then blasted a shot which sailed into the near post past Seth, and the matched ended, 1-0, Wolves. 

In the other group match, CASL prevailed over Kendall, 2-1.  The Internationals will play Kendall tomorrow, and Kendall's chances to push through are still alive with a win over Inter, which Inter hopes to disallow...

14 Dec. ’07. On a splendid, warm, sunny, blue-sky Friday morning with temps in the upper 60’s, the Internationals were matched up with a little before known team from Georgia, the GSA Phoenix, which a mom on the sidelines indicated is a new team with players from several other teams including (7) players from the once formidable Norcross Fury Gold. The first half would be a physical and defensive battle with both teams limiting the other to just 1 shot on goal which were both unsuccessful. The Phoenix were quick, pressured the ball strongly, giving little room/time to make crisp and effective passes. They would also setup 1 corner kick opportunity which went awry while committing 9 fouls (including 1 handball). The Internationals almost managed to squeak in a goal off of a nice free kick from Patrick M. about 22 yards out on the right into the box where Matt H. volleyed the ball from the left 10-15 yards out that went just over the cross bar. The Internationals committed 10 fouls (including 1 handball), giving numerous opportunities to some well-placed dangerous balls in the goal mouth from far out by #12, and the half ended scoreless. In the second half, both teams intensified their offensive attacking with the Phoenix shooting 3 times on goal with 1 corner kick, but all were unsuccessful while committing 4 fouls. The Internationals would also shoot 3 times on goal, including a shot which sailed just over the cross bar by Nick A. in the waning seconds of the match, and 4 corner kick opportunities which were all unsuccessful while committing 10 fouls (including 1 handball and 2 offsides), and the match ended nil-nil.

15 Dec. ’07. On a cloudy, much cooler and windy day with temps in the lower 40’s, with much anticipation the Internationals faced the much heralded Lonestars 92B Red from Texas-South and Region 3 Champs/USYSA National Semi-Finalist. This match was also somewhat of a defensive battle, although not quite as physical as the 1st match and the Lonestars did not pressure the ball quite as tight as the Georgia team, which gave the Internationals slightly more time to maneuver the ball around. The Internationals strong defense stymied the Lonestars, holding them to no shots on goal or corner kick opportunities while committing 4 fouls. The Internationals would take just 1 effective shot on goal and setup 5 corner kicks which all went awry while committing 4 fouls. At about the 6 minute mark, Vitlais received a ball on the left side about 20 yards out and serviced the ball into the box to Ebo about 10-12 yards out where he turned and sent a shot/pass towards goal where Skylar was in perfect position on the far post about 6 yards out, slamming in the only goal and the half ended, 1-0, Internationals. In the second half, the Lonestars would step up their offensive intensity, shooting 5 times on goal with 1 corner kick but all were unsuccessful while committing 5 fouls (including a YC shown to #16 for crashing into Seth M./GK). The Internationals would manage just 2 shots on goal with 2 corner kicks while all were unsuccessful while committing 3 fouls (including 1 handball), and the match ended, 1-0, Internationals.

Later in the still cool afternoon with intermittent light rain, the Internationals would square off with another little before known team from Indiana, the Indy Burn 92, who dropped a tough match yesterday to the Lonestars, 0-2, and also lost earlier this morning to the GSA Phoenix, 0-6, after playing a man down due to red card and some officiating issues. The Internationals expected they would be in a for a hard fought contest with the Burn who did not want to go home winless. The Burn played hard but they managed just 1 shot on goal which was unsuccessful with no corner kicks while committing 4 fouls. Inter would manage 2 shots on goal, one which was successful and setup 2 corner kicks which were not successful while committing 7 fouls (including 2 handballs and 1 offsides). At about the 28 minute mark, Skylar sent a well-placed corner kick from the right into the right side of goal area where Nathaniel H. flicked it into the box where Scott was positioned about 3-4 yards out and deflected the ball off his hip into the goal for the 1st goal, and the match ended several minutes later, 1-0, Internationals. The Internationals would carry play for most of the 2nd half, shooting 7 times on goal and setting up 2 corner kick opportunities while committing 9 fouls (including 1 handball and a YC shown to Nick V. for a hard foul). At about the 12 minute mark, Skylar sent another well-placed corner kick into the box where Ben N. timed his leap up in the air to head strike the ball into the net for the 2nd goal. Alas, at about the 35 minute mark, the Burn would strike their first and only goal off of a corner kick which was well-placed in the box and found the back of the net beyond Seth’s grasp. Just 4 minutes later at about the 39 minute mark, Martin S. rcvd a ball in the middle about 25 yards out and served a nice pass to Nathaniel H. around 18 yards out who then turned, dribbled a couple of steps past defenders and easily struck in the 3rd goal, and the match ended, 3-1, Internationals.

The GSA Phoenix and Internationals were tied with 7 points each (2-0-1), but the Phoenix edged out the Internationals in the tie-breaker Fewest Goals Allowed and went on to defeat the Freestate Titans (Elite) in the Final, 2-1, on PK’s after a 1-1 tie in a rain-shortened 2 x 20 minute halves and no OT’s. Congratulations, GSA Phoenix – well done!