Bethesda Internationals

09 Apr. '06. After almost an inch of rain yesterday and the passing of a cold front, the field at the MD SoccerPlex was mushy with spotty areas of standing water/clumpy turf, and the skies were sunny with somewhat breezy winds and chilly temps in the low 30's. Inter played well against the always hard-working MATT Crew from the start of the match and notched its first goal at about the 10 minute mark when an Inter counter-attack sent a ball upfield into MATT Crew's goal mouth where Vitalis flicked a short pass up/over to the left side of the goal to Glen who turned and fired a hard shot past the keeper into the net. A few minutes later at around the 23 minute mark, Inter launched a similar attack sending the ball upfield in MATT Crew's goal mouth. Roque collected the ball, turned and fired a hard shot at the keeper who could not secure the ball and it rolled outward where Tomiwa alertly struck the short shot into the net for Inter's 2nd goal. Inter took 6 shots on goal with 1 corner kick and committed 3 fouls (2 offsides), and limited MATT Crew to just one free kick that sailed harmlessly high over the cross-bar. MATT Crew committed 1 foul with no corners. In the 2nd half, at about the 12 minute mark, after a foul by MATT Crew, Skylar sent a free kick from about 35 yards out to the right high into the goal mouth and the MATT Crew GK initially caught/clutched the ball but then it slipped from his grasp and onto the ground. As Mati attempted to strike the ball into the net, the MATT Crew GK punched it away but it went right to Nat who turned and struck in the 3rd goal. MATT Crew held Inter to just 2 shots on goal, but Inter committed 9 fouls -- with a whopping 8 offsides. MATT Crew committed 3 fouls and managed 2 shots on goal with 1 CK but were denied by Inter's strong D. End of match, 3-nil, Inter.

2 Apr. '06. Inter and FCH Premier AC 91W matches have become intensely contested, hard fought rival affair battles of late, with PAC 91W having knocked Inter out of 1st place in the last game of the fall 2005 season at the MD SoccerPlex with a 1-0 victory -- allowing the RR's to capture the D1 title. Inter and PAC 91W locked up next in a Pre-Spring 2006 Friendly in early March, with Inter walking away with a solild 2-0 win. Once again out at the MD SoccerPlex fields on a somewhat poor, clumpy turf field -- but on a nice, warm spring day, PAC 91W and Inter faced each other for the much anticipated season opener. Both teams are favored to vy for the D1 crown this year as the strong RR's and Titans teams jumped over to Region1 Premier. The first half was well controlled by Inter for the most part, shooting 5 times on goal but could not finish while committing 4 fouls. PAC 91W managed to send several long balls upfield past Inter's solid defense, but they quickly recovered to clear them out of harms way. PAC 91W did manage 2 shots on goal and 1 corner kick by Torian into the box around the 21 minute mark, but the attempted header shot went awry. End of first half, 0-0. In the 2nd half, PAC 91W stepped up its pressure/attack and its strong back line held Inter to just a single, missed shot on goal. Inter was able to manufacture 4 corner kicks, several of which either went behind goal or were sent too low to the turf and PAC 91W defended well, safely clearing all balls out/away. Inter committed 4 fouls, including an intentional foul (pulled PAC91W jersey) around the 18 minute mark. PAC 91W was awarded a free kick and launched a nice DK from about 35 yards to the right into the left side of the box around 18 yards out where a PAC 91W player peferectly timed his leap up in the air, heading in a hard strike to the left of a surprised Nat and into the back of the net. PAC91W also created 2 corner kick opportunites which went awry, while also committing 4 fouls. Congratulations to PAC91W for a well-deserved victory over Inter!

25-26 Mar. '06. After two days of play on various fields across Baltimore, some good, some poor, and with cold, windy, mostly cloudy skies, Inter faired well in its first participation in this nearby local event. Although Inter was unbeaten in 3 matches, it did not advance to Semi-Final play due to PK tie-breaker rule. In its first match play on Saturday, Inter played a tough, feisty Super Nova 91 team from PAE on a superb turf field at the nice Boys Latin School. Inter could not get into a good flow/rhythm and appeared slow to the ball or perhaps the PAE team was just that much quicker to win the ball. Inter could manage only 3 shots on goal in the first half while committing 3 fouls. Inter's staunchy defense limited the Super Nova team to a single, failed shot on goal while committing 11 fouls, and the half ended, 0-0. The 2nd half was pretty much the same with the Super Nova team taking 2 direct kicks towards goal and 1 unsuccessful corner kick while committing 6 fouls. Inter finally stepped up its attack/pressure late in the 2nd half but Inter could manage only 2 shots on goal and 1 corner kick while committing 5 fouls. With about 1-2 minutes left in the match, a nice ball was served into the goal mouth around 6-8 yards and the Super Nova GK came out and punched the ball up in the air. Skylar was in a good position to put a strong head on the ball and it flew hard towards the net but the GK made a great recovery and was able to save/deflect the ball out of harms way. End of match, 0-0. For the 2nd match, Inter faced the Bruno United (RI) team, who in the first half played well and held Inter to just 2 shots on goal while taking 2 corner kicks and committed 3 fouls (2 offsides). Inter's strong defense stymied the RI team and no shots on goal or corner kicks were taken while committing 5 fouls, and the half ended, 0-0. The 2nd half contrasted sharply with the 1st half, and Inter quickly scored early on. At about the 3 minute mark, Skylar sent a nice pass from around 30 yards on the left upfield to Vitalis about 15-18 yards who dribbled a few yards in towards goal and launched a hard shot into goal past the keeper. After a red card was issued on Bruno for a hand ball in the box to swat a ball out away at about the 18 minute mark, Inter was awarded a PK and Nicholas sent in the perfect strike past the GK to put Inter up, 2-nil. Just 1 minute later, Inter countered a Bruno attack with Chris sending a crisp pass from around 30 yards on the left to a streaking Roque who collected the ball, dribbled a few yards to the right of the goal mouth and fired in Inter's 3rd goal. Although Bruno was able to take 4 shots on goal and 1 corner kick, all harmlessly went awry. Bruno committed 5 fouls, while Inter also committed 5 fouls (4 offsides), and took 5 shots on goal with the PK. End of match, 3-0, Inter. Inter awaited the outcome of a later afternoon match beteween Super Nova and Bruno to determine whether Inter would advance to the Semi-Final on Sunday. Should Super Nova per chance prevail over Bruno by the same 3-0 margin of victory as Inter, a PK shootout would determine who would advance to the Semi-Final. After checking the website for the results, it was finally posted around 7PM. Incredibly, Super Nova prevailed over Bruno, 3-0. As the Semi-Final match was scheduled for 8AM on Sunday, the Tournament Director required that Inter and Super Nova conduct a FIFA PK shootout at 7:15am at Dundalk Community College, with the winner staying over to face the BAYS92 in the Semi-Final, and the loser going on to play a Consolation game at Herring Run Park at 1pm. Super Nova missed the 1st attempt but made the next 4. Inter made the 1st, missed the 2nd, made the 3rd but the Super Nova stopped the 4th attempt, with Super Nova winning the PK event (4-2) and went on to play the BAYS92 in the Semi-Final -- which also ended up a scoreless tie and went into PK's, with the BAYS92 prevailing by the same 4-2. Most Inter families trekked back home from Baltimore, and then returned to Herring Run park to play the Odyssey Sport 97 (ME) in the 2nd in Group Consolation match. The field was in horrible shape with clumpy patches of grass and dirt, and the ball was hard to control for both teams, and took unexpected wierd bounces. Once again, Inter's strong defense stymied the Odyessy team from taking any shots on goal or corner kicks. The Odyessy committed 5 fouls, while Inter committed just 2 fouls and took 4 shots on goal and 3 corner kicks. At about the 8 minute mark, Patrick zipped a pass from the left side about 30 yards and upfield to Glenn who collected the ball, dribbled a few yards and sent in a strike into the net past the keeper for Inter's 1st goal. In the 2nd half, the Odyssey managed just 1 shot on goal and 1 corner kick which were both unsuccessful, and committed 4 fouls. Inter created 3 shots on goal with 1 corner kick and committed 3 fouls. At about the 10 minute mark, Sam received a pass around 35-40 yars on the left, worked his way upfield a few more yards and then sent a nice pass up to Vitalis around 18-20 yards out on the left. Vitalis quickly turned and fired in a hard shot past the keeper for Inter's 2nd goal. At about the 19 minute mark, Glenn was fouled in the box, and after being awarded a PK, Glenn then sent a perfect PK shot in past the GK, and the match ended, 3-0, Inter.

19 Mar. '06. On another bright and sunny but windy/chilly day, Inter found itself playing their old friends, RFC91, and once again on the short field at Godwin HS. Both teams played hard knowing that the winner would advance to the Champ match later in the afternoon and were able to move the ball well, often pentrating through each other's defensive backfield. In the first half, Inter was able to take 4-6 shots on goal, including a couple of rockets fired by V which went wide, and also created 2 corners while RFC91 shot just twice. At about the 32 minute mark of the 1st half, after pressure from Inter up front, RFC91 made a pass back to their GK and as he was running out to pick up the ball he momentarily took his eyes off the ball to look towards the Inter players rushing at him -- and, luckily for Inter, the ball passed under his hands backward and into the goal for an own-goal. The second half was back and forth with RFC91 stepping up its game knowing it had to get an equalizer goal as early on as possible. But, about midway thru the 2nd half a CK was awarded to Inter for a ball that RFC91 deflected out behind the left side of the goal line, but the center ref oddly directed the CK to be taken from the right corner. Obligingly, Skylar sent a right-footed serve into the goal mouth about 4-5 yards out and a flurry of activity ensued by both RFC91 to clear the ball away and Inter to strike in the ball. Alas, Glenn was able to back-heel in a touch goal past the scurrying GK. With about 5-6 minutes left to go in the match, RFC91 broke thru Inter's left back defense and created a succssful shot on goal, but could not manufacture the equalizer goal with precious little time remaining and the match ended in Inter's favor, 2-1. Inter always looks forward to playing the well coached and top caliber RFC91 team which holds the series edge over Inter in NCSL league and tournament play over the past several seasons. The Championship match found Inter 'out of the fire and into the frying pan' facing the Clearwater Chargers (FL) at Striker Park stadium on the nice but albeit hard turf field later in the afternoon. The Chargers are a merger of Strictly Soccer (FL-Champ) and Chargers (FL-Finalist) personnel with big, fast and very skillful players who are well coached and play an excellent style of team soccer. They had little difficulty in finding ways to score on Inter, and their defenders pretty much stymied Inter's offense. Although Vitalis launched a couple of hard blasts towards goal, they harmlessly sailed wide of goal -- but did cause a few gasps on the sidelines from the Chargers' families. Despite their size and aggressive play, the Chargers committed just 2 fouls (1 offsides) in the first half while Inter committed one foul. A bombardment of shots were taken on goal by the Chargers, 8 in all and 3 corner kids with the first goal coming off of a quick short corner kick at about the 15 minute mark. Inter was caught off guard and unprepared to defend the well executed play which resulted in the Charger's first and only goal of the 1st half. In the 2nd half, Inter again was able to manufacture just two shots on goal on the stingy Charger's defenders, and committed 5 fouls (2 offsides). The Chargers committed just one foul (offsides), but launched another barrage of 5 shots on goal and 2 corner kicks. One of the goals was a perfectly placed shot on goal from about 35+ yards out which sailed high over Nat into the upper back of the net. The match ended 4-0 for the Chargers, clearly the most impressive team Inter has faced in tournament play to date. All in all, Inter's success as a Finalist in the Championship Division of the prestigious Jefferson Cup was a surprise to many no doubt, but Inter players should be proud of their accomplishment nonetheless.

18 Mar. '06. Inter faced the much heralded and talented/strong Yardley Xplosion team from PAE in its first meeting ever in the opening match. It was a bright, sunny morning with gusty winds and a short, narrow pitch. Inter kicked off but Yardley quickly dispossessed Inter of the ball and worked it down into Inter's end of the field. Just 2 minutes into the match, Yardley served a nice ball into the goal mouth about 10 yards out where a hard header was slammed directly on goal but Nat reacted quickly, laying out to his right to stop the laser strike. The match was hard fought and tightly contested with 8 fouls committed by Yardley and 4 by Inter. Yardley attempted 3 shots on goal and no corner kicks in the first half, while Inter launched 4 shots on goal and created 3 corner kick opportunites but did not finish. After a foul by Inter near the center of the goal mouth about 25 yards out around the mid-way mark of the 1st half, Jamie anticipated the free kick and charged forward to block the kick but it was struck hard, sailing past all defenders and a surprised Nat into the left side of the net. Fortunately, Jamie was yellow-carded for not obeying the official's instruction to yield 10 yards and the goal was disallowed. Yardley was unable to finish on its subsequent free kick attempt. With about 5-6 minutes to go in the half after a foul by Yardley, Skylar launched a free kick from the left side about 35 yards out towards the 6 yard line and with a little help from the wind the ball flew high over everyone and took a fortunate downard dip into the upper left side of the net past the GK's outstretched arms. Yardley stepped up its offensive attack in the second half with most of the action being played down in Inter's half, and both Yardley/Inter committed 10 fouls each. Inter managed 3 shots on goal and 1 CK but was unable to finish, while Yardley took 2 SOG's and 2 CK's but was also unable to finish. Marcus was shown a YC for inadvertently kicking a Yardley player's leg while attempting to tackle the ball. About 20 minutes through the second half, Skylar cleared out a ball, falling to the turf from the awkward kick afterwards, and a Yarley player inadvertently kicked Skylar in the head and was awarded a YC. With about 1 minute left in the match, Vitalis rcvd a nice pass on the left side of Yardley's side about 35 yards out and was streaking upfield when a Yardley player obstructed/held V from progressing into open space and the player was Red-carded/ejected. Moments later, the matched ended, 1-0, Inter. The second match found Inter playing Ann Arbor Arsenal (MI) in its first-ever meeting on the full size field at the Godwin HS stadum, but the pitch was not in great shape with little grass clumps and dirt patches throughout the field -- not a great passing surface to say the least. And, the pesky winds were still gusting occasionally, but were not a significant factor for or against either team. However, Inter seemed to play with less focus and was not crisp on its first touches with the ball and made numerous less than effective passes. It was mostly a lackluster first half with Ann Arbor shooting just once on goal and 1 corner kick but could not finish. Ann Arbor committed 3 fouls while Inter committed 6 fouls and took 2 shots on goal but could not finish. Although both teams seemed to pick up the intensity in the second half with Ann Arbor committing 6 fouls and Inter committing 8 fouls, Inter's strong defense stymied Ann Arbor, limiting them to just one shot on goal -- a free kick from about 15 yards out which was unsuccessful. At about the 16 minute mark of the half, Glenn was fouled in the box while making a run on goal. Skylar attempted the PK, sending a hard shot directly at the GK who stopped the shot but could not maintain possession and it rolled out right to Skylar's feet and he sent in the game-winning goal past the GK. Inter's tight defense was able to keep the Ann Arbor team from setting up any serious scoring threat and the match ended, 1-0, Inter. Inter will advance to the Semi-Final tomorrow to play the winner of Group 3 (either RFC 91 or Jersey Crew United) which is being decided at this posting.