Bethesda Internationals

05 May '06. Potomac Division Brackets have been finalized as follows: Black Inter Bethesda (MD) 02 Cobb FC Premier (GA) MSC Badgers (MD) Lynnbrook/E.R. Magic (NYE) Red Group Seacoast United (NH) Albertson 91 Academy (NYE) Potomac Cougars 92 (MD) Rickhmond Kickers Premier (VA) White Group Reston FC 91 (VA) FC Westchester 92 (NYE) Samba TTP (CT) 92 Bays (MD)

30 Apr. '06. On another sun drenched, sky blue day at the MD SoccerPlex, Inter played the feisty TASC Team America 91 Red team from VA. It was another foul-plagued match, with 6 fouls (1 offsides) committed by TASC 91 Red while Inter perpetrated an astonishing 12 fouls (4 offsides). Inter managed 6 shots on goal and created 4 corner kick opportunites, but could only finish a single goal off of a CK situation. At about the 6 minute mark, Ebo launched a well-placed left-footed service into the box where the GK jumped up to grab the ball but it dropped from his clutch onto the ground near the goal line and Skylar was in perfect position to tap in the 1st goal. At about the 30 minute mark, Marcus received a pass on the right side and made a strong overlapping break-away run upfield and into TASC 91 Red box where he was clearly fouled from behind but no call was made by the center official. Inter's strong defense limited the TASC 91 Red team to just 3 shots on goal and 1 corner kick opportunity, all of which were unsuccessful. However, during a counter attack by TASC 91 Red in the last minute of the 1st half, a long ball was sent high over the left backfield and an attempt to head the ball forward/away was unsuccessful as it sailed backwards towards Inter's goal mouth. A mad scramble ensued by TASC 91 Red and Inter players and Nat to possess the ball which was won by a TASC 91 Red player who turned and fired hard on goal but it hit high off the post/crossbar and deflected down near the goal line. As Nat tried to return back to collect the ball, another TASC 91 Red player who was in an offsides position on the ground near the goal line actually touched the ball before a teammate who was onsides kicked the ball into the net -- but the goal was nullified due to an offsides call on the player near the goal line, and the first half ended, 1-0, Inter. In the 2nd half, Inter's strong defense stymied TASC 91 Red completely, allowing just 1 shot on goal while committing 7 fouls (1 offsides) and a yellow card was shown to #10 for hard tackle attempt on the ball. Inter committed 4 fouls (2 offsides), and took 10 shots on goal with 2 corner kick opportunities, but could only finish one more time. At about the 19 minute mark, Skylar sent a nice service from the right side line about 22 yards out into the center of the goal mouth where Patrick attempted to strike the ball off of a bounce in the air towards the net but the ball was not hit solid and it went directly left where Glenn fortunately was in good position near the 18 yard line to slam in the 2nd goal past the surprised GK. End of match, 2-nil, Inter.

29 Apr. '06. Once again Inter trekked up to the Harford County Polo Grounds to play a Round 3 Quarter-Final against the MSC Badgers, and this time the weather cooperated nicely with bright and sunny skies, and the fields were in great shape. The Badgers proved to be quite a hardworking, doggedly determined team with strong mid-field play, and they were relentless in pressuring and challenging Inter players, causing numerous errant balls that were hastily released which created counter-attack opportunities by the Badgers. However, in the 1st half, the Badgers were unable to mount any serious offensive threat as they could not penetrate Inter's strong defensive backfield except for 1-2 harmless through balls that Nat easily scooped up. The Badger's hard, physical play resulted in 11 fouls and 1 yellow card on #8. Inter committed 9 fouls (2 handballs), and managed 7 shots on goal with 1 corner kick opportunity. At about the 19 minute mark, after a foul by the Badgers, Skylar launched a direct kick from about 35 yards out slightly left of center into the goal mouth where Ben leaped up and headed the ball towards the goal, but it hit the cross bar and deflected back out into the goal mouth straight to Ebo who kicked in the 1st goal of the match. The Badgers were limited to just 2 unsuccessful free kicks and one shot on goal which sailed high and wide left of goal in the last minute of the half. The Badger's GK made a great stop/save around the 23 minute mark after Vitalis fired a hard, laser shot directly at the GK. The 2nd half was much of the same hard, physical play by the Badgers, who committed 7 fouls (1 handball) with 2 yellow cards shown to #2 and #7. Inter played much more aggressvely in the 2nd half, committing 9 fouls (1 handball), but could only manage just 2 shots on goal and created 2 corner kick opportunities which were all unsuccessful. Although the Badgers were only able to take 3 shots on goal (1 free kick), they succeeded in breaking through Inter's backfield on a counter-attack after an errant pass. At about the 15 minute mark, a Badger player maneuvered behind Inter's defenders deep towards the right side of the goal near the end line and fired a sharp, acute-angled shot past Nat (who was guarding the right post) which somehow managed to find the far left side of the net to even the score at 1-1, and the match went into 2 x 10 minute OT periods. In the 1st OT, Inter managed 4 shots on goal and committed 1 offsides foul, while the Badgers were held in check with no shots taken with 3 fouls (1 handball). At about the 2 minute mark, Vitalis received a pass (from Roque?) about 18 yards out on the right, dribbled a few yards ahead and to the left side of the goal mouth, turned and fired in a blast to the net for Inter's 2nd goal. Just 2 minutes later, Glenn was fouled in the box, and Vitalis sent a hard, low PK shot past the GK for Inter's 3rd goal. In the 2nd OT, the Badgers managed 1 unsuccessful shot on goal and committed 3 fouls. Inter took 4 shots on goal (1 direct) and 2 corner kicks which were all unsuccessful, and committed 2 fouls. End of match, 3-1, Inter. Credit the Badgers for a valiant effort in contending well in this match. Inter will face them again in league play in a few short weeks.

22 Apr. '06. Although rain had been falling since Friday evening into Saturday morning, the Round 2 match with the Potomac Plague would still be played up north of Baltimore at the Harford County Polo Grounds. After an almost 2 hr. trek up to HCPG, ingress into the fields and parking was very muddy and slippery with standing puddles of water, but the fields themselves were in nice shape thanks to good drainage. This match was clearly controlled by Inter from start to finish, but finish is what Inter seemed not to be able to do for the most part. In the first half, Inter's strong defense limited the Plague to just two forays deep into the backfield but prevented any shots from being taken on goal. The Plague played hard, pressuring the ball and committed 10 fouls while Inter committed 4. Inter created 1 corner kick opportunity and took 8 shots on goal, but all missed their mark wide of net or went over the cross bar, and the 1st half ended scoreless. In the 2nd half, Inter seemed more determined and focused, stepping up its attack, and created 3 corner kick opportunities with 10 shots taken on goal -- but could manage only 2 successful strikes into the net. At about the 7 minute mark, Ebo served a nice ball from about 25 yards out on the left into the right side of the box where Skylar one-touched the ball towards the center of the goal mouth to Vitalis who tapped in the 1st goal past the GK. Several minutes later, at about the 11 minute mark, Vitalis served a ball from the left side about 20-25 yards out on the left into the middle of the box where Glenn was in perfect position to collect the ball and fire in an easy shot past the GK for the 2nd and last goal of the match. Inter's strong defense again stymied the Plague, denying them any shots on goal except for a free kick with 1 minute to play in the match. After a wrong call by the official for a foul by an Inter player who was actually fouled from behind by a Plague player at about 22 yards out, the Plague's free kick sailed harmlessly high and wide of net and the match ended moments later, 2-nil, Inter.

15 Apr. '06. Inter Bethesda has once again been accepted into this excellent local event during Memorial Day weekend. Although it has been thwarted in its quest for the Championship crown in the past chiefly due to its rival and friend, RFC91, ousting Inter in either the Preliminary or Final matches, Inter is looking to reverse the trend and come out on top this year -- although last year's winner, Cobb FC Premier (GA), who edged RFC91 in the Final, 1-0, will be back and in even stronger form after a hugely successful outing in the recent Dallas Cup winning the Championship match today against MTN San Nicholas, 2-0!