Bethesda Internationals

4 Apr. ’09.  In the little before heard of Challenge for Tiffany Cup, an international invitational soccer event held for the 3^rd time in DC since 2006, the Internationals were invited along with 3 other top local teams, DC United Development Academy, Freestate Elite and Great Falls 91 Elite, to compete against 4 other premier U16 youth squads from around the world, Blackburn Rovers (ENG), El Deportivo Saprissa (CTR) and Real Madrid (ESP). 

In the 1^st match today, the Internationals faced the much-heralded El Deportivo Saprissa squad at Georgetown University on a splendid, sunny day.  The grass pitch adjacent the hospital and noisy heli-port was in superb condition but the wind after a passing storm system yesterday was blowing hard with some occasional strong gusts.  The Internationals kicked off in the 1^st half with the wind blowing behind them.  Surprisingly, the Saprissa squad, dressed in their classic purple/white uniforms, did not pressure the ball as intensely as would be expected, giving the Internationals ample time to work the ball around. Early in the opening minutes, Skylar sent a nice cross from the right side into the goal mouth but Chris’ shot on goal was caught by the GK.  Saprissa would score first on a counter-attack around the 23 min. mark.  A long ball was quickly sent upfield on the left behind the right back line where a Saprissa player collected it to send a blast from about 25 yds. out past Seth into the net to put Saprissa up, 1-0. At about the 35 min. mark, Chris received a pass around 25 yds. on the right and fired a shot towards goal which went wide right.  A few minutes later at about the 38 min. mark, Schillo launched a shot from near 25-28 yds. in the middle which sailed wide left.  One min. later, Saprissa sent a hard shot from about 20 yds. on the right which went high over the cross bar.  Saprissa would take just 3 shots on goal, no corners and committed 4 fouls, while Inter also would take 3 shots on goal, setup 2 corner kicks which were all unsuccessful while committing 4 fouls, and the half ended, 1-0, Saprissa.

In the 2^nd half, Saprissa kicked off with the wind at their backs and at about the 4 min. mark, Saprissa sent a hard shot from about 30 yds. on the right which sailed high over the cross-bar.  Two minutes later, Vitalis served a corner kick from Saprissa’s left side into the goal mouth where Nick A. jumped up far post to head the ball past the GK’s outstretched arms into the net near post.  At about the 27 min. mark,Vitalis received a ball on the left side and sent a hard shot on goal from about 25 yds. left which the GK caught. Saprissa would notch the go-ahead and game-winning goal at about the 36min. mark off of a left corner kick.   Inter created a couple more chances to even the score.  One min. later, Alex fired a shot from the middle about 22 yds. out center which the GK caught.  Also, at the 40 min mark, Nicholas sent a long shot from 30 yds. center which went wide right.  Although Inter controlled most ofthe play in the 2^nd half, taking 4 shots on goal and setting up 3 corner kicks while committing just a single foul, it was unable to finish another score.  Saprissa was held to just 2 sots on goal, 1 corner kick while committing 4 fouls, and the match ended, 2-1, Saprissa.