Bethesda Internationals

24 May ’09.  On an early, sunny morning, Pachuca played its 3^rd preliminary match against the surging SYA Copperheads, VA Finalist 2009, and unbeaten in 8 of their last 10 matches.  In the 1^sthalf, the Copperheads kicked off and Inter’s stingy defense held the SYA team to just 1 shot on goal and 2 corner kicks which were all unsuccessful.  SYA played hard but committed just 1 foul while Pachuca committed 7 fouls (including 2 offsides and a YC shown to Mati for a hard foul).   Inter would strike quickly in the 1^st minute when Schillo collected a   the right corner, worked his way over to around 22 yds. left and fired a hard shot into the net to put Pachuca up, 1-0.  At about the 17 min. mark, Erik collected a ball in the middle, dribbled to near 20 yds. right and fired a shot on goal which the GK stopped.  At about the 25 min. mark, Skylar sent a left-corner kick into the box and a melee ensued .  Ebo found the ball at his feet and kicked in the goal but it was negated due a bizarre offsides call.  At the 26 min. mark, Erik collected a pass near 22 yds. right and fired a shot on goal which the GK caught.  Around the 32 min. mark, Skylar received a ball near 20 yds. right and fired a hard shot which went over the cross-bar.  And, at the 37 min.mark, Ricardo collected a pass near 25 yds. left and sent a hard shot on goal which went wide.  In all total, Inter would take 5 shots on goal and setup 5 corner kicks but came away with just a lone goal, and the half ended, 1-0, Pachuca. 

In the 2^nd half, Inter kicked off and would control most of the half.  The defense held SYA to just 1 shot on goal and 1 corner kick which were both unsuccessful.  The Copperheads committed 12 fouls (including a YC shown to #19 for a hard foul) while Pachuca committed 7 fouls (including a YC shown to Ricardo for a push).  The Internationals launched a barrage of  6 shots on goal and 1 corner kick which was unsuccessful.  At the 4 min.mark, Ricardo received a pass near 20 yds. center and kicked a hard shot which went high over the cross-bar.  At the 14min. mark, Skylar sent a free kick from about 22 yds. left into the box where Ricardo jumped up to head strike the ball into the right side of the net to put Inter up, 2-0.   At the 18 min. mark, a ball was served into the box where Chris head-flicked a ball on goal which the GK stopped.  Around the 30 min. mark, Ricardo received a pass near 30 yds. center, turned and sent a hard shot on goal which the GK finger-tip-saved.  One min. later, Stephen collected a ball near 25 yds. right and sent a shot towards goal which went wide left, and at the 33 min. mark, Matt took another ball upfield into SYA’s box where he was fouled.  Ricardo took the PK but it went wide right, and the match ended several minutes later, 2-0, Internationals.