Bethesda Internationals

21 Jan. '09.  The Internationals have been accepted into the prestigious The Jefferson Cup 2009, and has been grouped in the the top Championship division as follows:

Group A:

YMS Xplosion (PA-E)

Triangle United Gold (NC)

Massapequa Aces (NY-E)

Freestate Elite (MD)

Group B:

Pachuca Internationals (MD)

GFA 91 Elite (VA)

Cincinnati United Premier (CUP) Red (OH-S)

TSF Academy Celtic (NJ)

The Internationals look forward to another great event competing against top elite teams from Region I, II and III.  

30 Dec. '08.  The Internationals  faced the Sereno SC 92 White (AZ), Arizona State Champs 2007-2008 & Region IV Champs 2007 in an early morning Consolation match out at Austin Tindall Local Park.  In the first half, Inter's usual strong defense held the Sereno team to just 1 shot on goal and no corners while the Arizona team committed 7 fouls (including 1 offsides).  Inter controlled play for most of the half taking 4 shots on goal (including a header by Erik which went wide, a shot by Vitalis which sailed wide right and also a free kick by Skylar from 25 yds. center which the GK caught), and 3 corner kicks which were all unsuccessful while committing 9 fouls (including 3 handballs), and the half ended scoreless.

In the 2nd half, Inter again controlled most of the play and took 4 shots on goal including a nice cross from Stephen on the right into the box to Alex whose shot went over the x-bar, and after the GK dropped a ball near the goal line from a shot (by Ebo or Chris?), Marcel's close-in attempt hit a defender and the ball sailed over the x-bar.  Inter also setup 4 corner kicks which were all unsuccessful while committing 6 fouls.  The Sereno team committed 7 fouls (including a YC shown to #14 for a hard foul).  Inter's strong defense held Sereno to just 2 shots on goal and no corners, and regulation time ended 0-0.

In the 1st 10 min. OT, Inter found the net at the 5 min. mark after Chris received a ball upfield in the box, dribbled to his right to draw defenders and GK toward him and then pushed the ball quickly to his left to race past defenders/GK to strike a nice left-footed shot into the net.  Inter also took another shot attempt and setup 1 corner kick which were unsuccessful while committing 2 fouls.  The Arizona team could not get off a shot or setup a corner kick while committing 1 foul, and the 1st OT period ended, 1-0, Inter.

In the 2nd 10 min. OT, both teams took 2 shots on goal while Inter setup 1 corner kick and all were unsuccessful with Sereno committing 2 fouls (including 1 offsides) while  Inter committed 2 fouls, and the match ended, 1-0, Internationals.

29 Dec. '08.  For its 3rd preliminary match, the Internationals faced the FC Pride 92 Premier (IN) in a mid-day affair at WWS.  The Indiana team was big and fast and struck first off of a set play corner kick at the 6 min. mark when a ball was served into the box and an unmarked player was able to jump up and head the ball into the net past Seth's right side.  The Premier team would manage only 4 shots on goal and 1 corner kick while committing 4 fouls (incuding 1 handball), but they would notch another at about the 19 min. mark when a Pride player collected a ball in the middle and dribbled in between defenders who were unable to tackle the ball away before he launched a low shot past Seth into the net to put the Indiana team up 2-0.  Inter created several scoring opportunities including a play setup from a run upfield on the left by Matt who passed to Ebo in the corner who then sent a nice cross into the box but Inter could not finish; and, a free kick by Schillo from about 19 yds. out center which hit the left post and deflected out and a header attempt by Erik which wnet over the cross-bar.  Inter would take 7 shots and 5 corner kicks while committing 9 fouls (including 1 handball and 2 offsides), and the half ended, 2-0, FC Pride.

In the 2nd half, the Pride would take 3 shots on goal and 3 corner kicks which were all unsuccesful while committing 6 fouls.   The Pride almost scored a 3rd goal on a counter-attack when a long-ball was collected behind Inter's back line and 1v1 on Seth but the close-in shot fortunately went wide and right of the goal.  Inter again had numerous scoring opportunities or 5 shots on goal while committing 6 fouls.  At the 9 min. mark, Schillo colleced a pass and dribbled upfield into the Pride's right corner where he served a ball into the box to Chris who headed in the close-in goal.  Skylar received a pass in the box on the right side and sent a shot directly at the GK who easily collected the ball and a free kick which went high over the cross-bar, and a shot by Erik which also went high over the corss bar, and the match ended, 2-1, FC Pride, and also ended the Internationals 11 game unbeaten streak.  It will play Sereno White (AZ) in a Consolation match at an off-side venue ATRP at 8:30am tomorrow morning.

28 Dec. '08.  The Internationals faced the San Juan Lightning 92 Blue (CA-N), Surf Cup Gold 2008 Champs in a late afternoon match back out at WWS.  The Lightning would strike first at the 9 min. mark after a ball in the box was unable to be cleared away about 12-15 yds. out o Inter's left side.  The San Juan team would manage just 2 shots on goal and 3 corner kicks while committing 6 fouls but only finished the earlier lone goal.  The Internationals took 5 shots on goal and 1 corner kick while committing 4 fouls -- and the equalizer goal came at about the 32 min. mark when the GK booted a low ball away on the turf directly to Chris around 10-12 yds. center who sent a shot into the net as the GK came out too late to try and regather the ball.  About 5 mins. later, Schillo rcvd a pass in the middle, dribbled to his right, eluding defenders and chipped a well-placed shot over defenders and the GK into the upper left corner of the net to put Inter up 2-1.

In the 2nd half, the Lightning stepped up its offensive intensity, taking 5 shots on goal including a hard shot which Seth made a finger-tip save, and 3 corner kicks while committing 4 fouls.  Inter was held to just 2 shots on goal and 2 corner kicks while committing 7 fouls (including 1 handball and 2 offsides), and the match ended, 2-1, Internationals. 

27 Dec. '08.  The Internationals 1st game in the Predator Black group was a night affair under the lights at Wide World of Sports against U16/Andromeda USSF Academy (TX-N).  The Internationals possessed the ball for most of the first half and setup 9 shots on goal and 5 corner kicks, including a nice run upfield on the left by Matt who dished a ball off to Schillo in the middle whose hard blast sailed over the cross-bar.  Although controlling most of the play in the half, the Internationals would not be able to finish a goal while committing 7 fouls (including 1 offsides).  The Andromeda team managed 3 shots on goal and 2 corner kicks which all went awry while committing 3 fouls (including 1 handball and 1 offsides), and the half ended scoreless.

The Andromeda team stepped up its intensity and played more aggressively in  the 2nd half, committing 11 fouls (including a YC shown to #17 for a hard foul).  Andromeda managed 7 shots on goal including a shot which bounced off the side post to the turf which Seth secured safely.   Again, Inter setup many scoring opportunities including a hard shot by Ebo which the GK finger-tip saved and another late hard blast by Vitalis which sailed high over the cross-bar.  Inter launched 7 shots on goal and 1 corner kick but could not finish while committing 7 fouls (including a YC shown to Patrick for not agreeing with an official's call, and an unlucky RC shown to Erik at the 30 min. mark for dropping the ball on the turf too strongly after an apparent foul on Erik was not called; and, 1 offsides and 1 handball), and the match ended in a 0-0 tie.