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.

27 May '07. Back out at the Poolesville Polo Grounds on another hot day, the Internationals faced its rival friends from VA, FCH Premier AC 91W, whom the Internationals bested in NCSL/D1 league play in early April, 1-0. The winner of the match would more than likely move on to the Semi's as the Wild Card. Jamie was sitting out after rcving a Red Card after the end of the 2nd game yesterday, and Ben was home taking it easy after his Grade One concussion sustained in the the 1st game yesterday. FCH Premier AC 91W sent the kick off back towards their back line for a hard boot upfield but Scott raced forward to successfully challenge and win the ball, dishing it off the Skylar on the right who crossed the ball to Martin in the middle about 18 yards center who volleyed the cross just wide of goal. About 5 minutes later, Ebo rcvd a ball on the left and sent a hard shot from around 18 yards but the GK made the save/stop. Several minutes later, Vitalis rcvd a ball on the left side about 25 yards out and crossed it into the goal mouth to Scott who got a foot on the ball and it went just wide to the right of goal and behind the end line. Vitalis also took a hard shot on the left about 25 yards out which sailed high and wide of goal. At about the 21 minute mark, FCH launched an attack, sending a ball into the goal mouth where Joe grabbed the ball and clutched it to his chest as Torian crashed into him, knocking the ball out of his hands onto the turf where it was struck into the net for FCH's only game-winning goal. Incredibly, there was no call made by the officials for Torian crashing into Joe, and after the match the center ref admitted he did not see the play at the time and deferred to the AR who said it was a 50-50 ball, which unfortunately did not go to the GK/Internationals. The Internationals would take (5) shots on goal but could not finish while committing (9) fouls. The FCH Premier AC 91W would manage (5) shots on goal also and setup two corner kick opportunities which all but one were unsuccessful while committing five fouls. In the second half, both teams stepped up the intensity of play, and the Internationals held FCH to just two shots on goal which were unsuccessful while committing (9) fouls (including 1 offsides and 1 YC shown to #10 for a hard foul on V). Unfortunately, Vitalis got up off of the turf frustrated, and with his fist clenched, walked towards the player and took a very light, low swing at the player and he was immediately sent off the field with a Red Card at about the (23) minute mark. Playing a man down, the Internationals could manage only two shots on goal while committing five fouls. At about the (27) minute mark, Skylar sent a ball upfield to a streaking Scott who chased down the ball as the GK came off his line, but Scott was able to win the ball and sent a high-arcing shot over the GK's head and into the net -- but, the goal would not stand as the AR had been waving his flag for several seconds prior due to a cleats up slide tackle foul by Patrick, and the match ended several minutes later, 1-0, FCH Premier AC 91W.

26 May '07. Out at the Poolesville Polo Grounds on a extremely hot day, the Internationals would match up with a very physical HBC Flames (NY-E) team from Region1 Northeast in its first preliminary match. The Internationals held the Flames to just a single shot on goal and (1) corner kick which were both unsuccessful while committing four fouls (including 1 handball). The Internationals managed (4) shots which missed their mark and 1 corner kick which was unsuccessful while committing six fouls (including 2 offsides and 1 handball) and the half ended scoreless. In the 2nd half, the Internationals would once again control its strong play taking (7) shots on goal (including a hard blast from Ebo which the Flames' GK made a good stop/save) and (8) corner kicks but could not finish while committing 6 fouls (including 3 offsides). At about the 12 minute mark, Ben jumped up to clear a header ball upfield and was collided into by a Flames player with both players falling to ground. After severals minutes of stoppage, players were escorted off the field and Ben sustained a Grade One concussion. He will be out of action the rest of the tournament and more than likely will miss the upcoming MD State Cup Final next Sat., 2nd Jun. The Flames committed seven fouls (including 1 handball) and were held to just one shot on goal which unluckily for the Internationals was the game-winning goal. At about the 25 minute mark, off of a counter attack, the Flames quickly moved the ball upfield past the pushed up defenders, and as they raced back to challenge, Joe came off line to about 18 yards out to the right and attempted to grab the ball but it squibbed away backwards towards the left side of the goal mouth where only a Flames player was present and easily tapped in the goal, and the matched ended several minutes later, HBC Flames, 1-0. In the second match, the Internationals would face up with the COSA Express (OH-S)from Region2 Midwest Regional in the second contest of the very hot day. The Express earlier defeated the FCH Premier AC 91W team, 2-1, and the Internationals would not let down in this match against the Ohio team. In the first half, the Internationals denied the Express from taking any shots on goal and allowed (1) corner kick which was unsuccessful while committing five fouls (including 1 handball). the Internationals would take (4) shots on goal and (1) corner kick but all were unsuccessful while committing three fouls and the half ended scoreless. The Internationals' strong defense again held the Express to no shots on goal and no corner kicks while committing five fouls. Although the Internationals would step up its offensive intensity in the 2nd half, shooting 4 times on goal (including a close-in left-footed attempt by Skylar which was caught by the GK and a free kick by V from about 22+ yards out which sailed high and wide over the cross bar) and setting up six corner kick opportunities which were all unsuccessful while committing just two fouls, the Internationals would not be able to finish, and the match ended in a scoreless draw, 0-0. Jamie was shown a RC for USB/language used in conversation with teammates which the center ref overheard and found objectionable, and Jamie will have to sit-out of the game 3 match against FCH tomorrow.

20 May '07. Back out at the MD SoccerPlex on a mostly cloudy and still very breezy day after a hard-fought contest vs. Freestate Titans in yesterday's MD State Cup Semi-Final victory in PK's, the Internationals would not let their guard down today against the Badgers who proved to be a pesky opponent in many past contests -- but luckily for the Internationals not so today. In the first half, Inter would setup 7 shots on goal and two corner kick opportunities while committing 9 fouls (including 1 offsides, and a YC shown to Mati for a ?? foul). Just 3 minutes into the match, Drew rcvd a pass upfield on the left side, turned inward toward goal and served a nice ball into the goal mouth where Gerald was in perfect position to strike in the 1st goal past the GK. At about the 23 minute mark, after a foul on Inter, Patrick served a nice free kick into the goal mouth where Gerald was again in good position to time his header strike into the net past the GK. Inter's vaunted defense stymied the Badgers, holding them to just a single long shot attempt from about 30+ yards out on the right which sailed high and over the cross-bar, and no corner kicks while committing 5 fouls, and the half ended, 2-0, Internationals. In the 2nd half, Inter's stingy defenders held the Badgers to just two shots on goal, including a missed header off of a single corner kick situation, and a free-kick which sailed high over the cross-bar while committing 6 fouls (including a YC shown to #20 for a hard foul). The Internationals committed 12 fouls (including YC's shown to Ben for crashing into the GK in the box and to Ebo for continuous dissent). The Internationals would take 6 shots on goal and 3 corner kicks, and finish four times. Around 3 minutes into the 2nd half, Ebo served a long ball near the left side/end line into the box as Skylar raced onto the ball from the right side, flicking it off the side of his right foot in the air and into the net past the surprised GK. At about the 21 minute mark, Ben cleared a ball with a strong header that sailed upfield 25+ yards where Scott was able to collect the ball, dribble towards goal and strike in the 4th goal of the match. Just 3 minutes later, Vitalis served a ball into the box from almost the same spot where Ebo launched his service earlier, and Scott was able to collect the ball and fire in a strike pas the GK. And, with just 3 minutes left in the match, Skylar sent a well-placed free-kick into the box where Gerald collected the ball and struck in his 3rd/hat-trick goal, and and the match ended several minutes later, 6-0, Internationals.

19 May '07. The Internationals were back out at the SoccerPlex on a fiercely windy but mostly sunny day and this time to play its friends from PG County & former NCSL/D1 rivals, Freestate Titans, who have been playing in the Region I Premier League over the past two spring seasons. Many of the Titans & Internationals players are teammates on the MD 91 and MD 92 ODP squads, and most everyone expected this match to be a hard-fought, evenly-played and entertaining game -- and, indeed it was from start to finish. The Internationals kicked off into the strong cross-wind and their attack would be quickly thwarted by the Titans whose speed of play and counter-attacking would keep the Internationals on their heels for much of the first half. The Internationals would manage just (2) shots on goal and (3) corner kicks but all were unsuccessful while committing six fouls (including 1 handball). The Titans were able to shoot (4) times on goal and create (3) corner kick opportunities, but could not finish while committing two fouls and the half ended, 0-0. With the cross-wind slightly to their backs in the second half, the Internationals managed (3) shots on goal and (5) corner kick opportunities while committing 4 fouls (including 1 offsides). The first goal would come at the 16 minute mark after Scott raced down a long ball, and was able to beat the Titans defender to the ball, collected it and passed back to Skylar around 25 yards on the right who then served a perfectly placed ball into the box where a streaking Ebo ran onto the ball striking in the goal past their excellent GK, Kyle. The Titans would out shoot Inter with (5) shots on goal and (1) corner kick while committing 4 fouls, and they would be rewarded with the equalizer goal at the 29 minute mark when Jeremy sent a nicely placed ball into Inter's goal mouth about 5-6 yards out where Mike was in perfect position to chest trap the ball to the turf, turn and fire in a blast to the left of Joe who could do nothing to stop the well-placed hard shot, and the match ended in regulation time, 1-1. In the first OT period with the cross-wind, the Titans would manage no shots on goal with just (1) corner kick while committing two fouls including a foul from behind on Scott on a break-away but no card shown. The Internationals would take just (2) shots on goal and (1) corner kick which were all unsuccessful while committing one foul. The officials stopped the 1st OT at the ten minute mark, but then after realizing it should be (15) minute OT, re-started for another five minutes, and the 1st OT ended without any score. In the 2nd OT, Inter's defense held the Titans to no shots or corner kicks taken while committing (1) foul, while the Internationals took (4) shots on goal, including a hard shot by Vitalis which hit the cross-bar, deflected down and away from the goal, and another close-in shot by Scott which went just wide while committing two fouls and the 2nd OT ended scoreless with ensuing PK's to follow. The Titans made their first attempt, and Nicholas also made his 1st attempt. Joe made a great stop/save on the Titans' 2nd attempt, and Skylar made his 2nd shot. The Titans missed high over the cross-bar on the 3rd attempt, and Ben made the 3rd PK for Inter. The Titans made the 4th attempt, and Martin's 4th attempt was stopped by Kyle. And, Joe made a great stop/save on the the Titan's 5th attempt by Mike, and the Internationals prevailed in PK's, 3-2. The Internationals (formerly Inter Bethesda) have always enjoyed playing the talented Titans through the years, winning some and losing some and look forward to the next exciting contest whether in league, tournament or next year's MD State Cup play. In the MD State Cup Final on 2dn June, the Internationals will play its other good friends and former NCSL/D1 rivals, Bethesda Roadrunners, who have also been playing Region I Premier League for the last two spring seasons, and who prevailed over the Westminster Black Wolves today in the other Semi-Final match, 5-0.