Bethesda Internationals

9 Apr. ’09.  For the 3^rd match play in the group, the Internationals were back out at Georgetown University to face the highly acclaimed U16/Real Madrid team who bested DCUnited, 1-0 ,and, Saprissa, 5-2, in earlier matches of the tournament.  Real Madrid’s strong back line held the Internationals to just 1 shot on goal and 1 corner kick which were both unsuccessful while committing 4 fouls (including a YC shown to #5 for a hard foul on Schillo and 1offsides).  Although Inter’s normally solid defense kept Real Madrid to just 3 shots on goal and 2 corner kicks, the talented Spaniards would quickly notch a goal in the 4^th minute off of a nice sequence from a pass from the left side into the middle near 22yds. left center to a player inside the box 18 yds. center who then dished off to a RM player streaking into the box on the right near 17-18 yds. who sent a hard blast into the upper left corner of the net to take the lead, 1-0.  Real Madrid had another chance at the 9min. mark off of ball served into the box but the header went wide right.  However, at the 15 min. mark, Real Madrid would strike again off of a counter-attack from a long ball sent upfield behind the back line in the middle near 22 yds. where a player collected the ball and outran the last defender for 1v1 on Seth to send in a shot to the left net to put Real Madrid up 2-0.  Luckily, Real Madrid was called for an offsides to negate a goal scored off a header in the box around the 30 min. mark.  Inter had a couple of chances, once at the 18 min. mark from a counter-attack off a long-ball by Erik near mid-field sent upfield to Chris near 20yds. left who descended on the bouncing ball in the box at the same time as theGK came out to defend the play and the deflected ball hit the left outside of the net.  At about the 44 min.mark, Schillo collected a ball upfield near 20 yds. left and fired a hard shot towards goal which went wide right. Inter set up just 1 corner kick opportunity which was unsuccessful while committing 4 fouls (including 1 offsides), and the half ended, 2-0, Real Madrid.

In the 2^nd half, Real Madrid’s strong defense stymied the Internationals, allowing just 1 shot on goal and no corners.  Inter committed 7 fouls (including a RC shown to Mike for a cleats up slide tackle and sent off the field at about the 28 Min. mark). Real Madrid’s offense created many scoring opportunities, taking 10 shots on goal which were all either wide or high over the cross-bar or weakly struck and gobbled up by Seth – except for one.  At about the 7 min. mark a ball in Inter’s left back was not cleared in time before it was challenged and deflected back into Inter’s box where a RM player dribbled dangerously towards the end line to shoot or cross the ball but he was unluckily fouled for an ensuing PK which was well struck for RM’s 3^rd goal.   Fortunately, RM had 2 other scores negated due to offsides calls.  Inter’s only chances came at about the 23 min. mark when Skylar’s free kick attempt from 25 yds. center was struck low into the wall and deflected outward.  Then , at the 27 min. mark when Vitalis received a ball on the left side near 35 yds. and worked his way upfield to around 20 yds. left to fire a shot on goal which the GK caught, and the match ended, 3-0, Real Madrid.

 Real Madrid will play Blackburn Rovers (ENG) for the Championship match on Sat., 11^th Apr., at  Washington-Lee High School in Arlington, VA.