Bethesda Internationals

13 Dec. '08.  The Internationals were back in action after a hard-fought, competitive event at the PDA Showcase two weeks ago.  The weather in Williamsburg today was cold, windy with partly cloudy skies.  For its first match in the morning, the Internationals faced the Triangle United '91 Silver (NC) on a grass pitch at the Warhill Soccer Complex.   Inter's strong defense held the United Silver team to just 1 shot on goal which was unsuccessful and no corners while committing 9 fouls (including 1 handball).  The Internationals controlled play and moved the ball around well, setting up 3 corner kicks and 7 shots on goal while committing 2 fouls (including 1 offsides), but could finish only 1 goal which came at the 30 min. mark off of a nice cross from Erik from the right into the box where Nathaniel timed his jump up to head strike a shot into the net to put Inter up 1,0.

 In the 2nd half, Inter held the United Silver to just a single corner kick which was unsuccessful while committing 5 fouls.    Inter again controlled play in th 2nd half and at about the 8 min. mark, Nathaniel collected a ball up top, dribbled into the box and after eluding two defenders was about to attempt a 1v1 shot towards goal when he was dragged down from behind for a PK.  Nathaniel's perfect PK whizzed by the GK into the net to put Inter up 2-0.  The Internationals would take 4 shots on goal but all were unsuccessful while committing 4 fouls (including a YC show to V for a hard foul, and 1 handball), and the match ended, 2-0, Internationals.

As the highest U17 seed in the event, tournament officials extended the Internationals an extra exhibition match with a U18/U19 team from Colombia touring Williamsburg and assembled with players from both Colombia and several players residing in the Orlando area.  As expected, the Colombia Select team was quick, aggressive and played very physical.  The first half of play was basically even with both sides creating opportunities but unable to finish.  The Colombia  Select team managed 6 shots on goal which were wide or high and a direct shot which Seth caught and 1 corner kick which was unsuccessful while committing 9 fouls (including a YC shown to #11 for USB, 1 offsides and 1 handball).  The Internationals would take 5 shots on goal and 1 corner kick which were all unsuccessful while committing 4 fouls (including 1 offsides).

In  the 2nd half, the Internationals stepped up its intensity and played more determinedly.  Inter's solid back line held the Colombia Select team to just 3 shots on goal which were all unsuccessful and no corners while committing 9 fouls (incudling a YC shown to #13 for a hard foul from behind on Ebo).   The Internationals would launch 8 shots on goal, including a nice crossed ball by Ebo from left to right far post where Skylar's header attempt was snatched by the GK and 3 corner kicks which were all unsuccessful while committing 7 fouls (including 2 offsides), and the match ended in a scoreless draw, 0-0.

29 Nov. '08.  For its 3rd game of the event, the Internationals were matched up in an early morning contest with the TSF Academy Celtic, NJ Champs 2008.  The wind died down to a light breeze but it was still quite cold.  At the inaugural US Club Soccer National Collegiate College Showcase tournament in July, the Internationals battled the Celtic in a hard-fought contest which was not indicative of the final score, 4-0, with Inter notching two goals in the final minutes.  Today's match was much tighter than the previous encounter with this very good NJ team.  The Celtic managed 3 shots on goal and 1 corner kick which were all unsuccessful while committing 3 fouls.  Inter took 4 shots on goal and setup 3 corner kick opportunities and all were unsuccessful except one while committing 8 fouls (including 1 handball).  At about the 15 min. mark, Ebo passed a nice ball from the left middle upfield to Chris who collected it around 30 yds., dribbled a few yards and sent a hard shot into the back of the net to put inter up 1-0 for the only score of the half.

In the 2nd half, the Celtic took 3 shots on goal and 3 corner kicks while committing 4 fouls (including a YC shown to #10 for a hard foul and 1 handball).  At the 21 min. mark, the Celtic scored off of a corner kick into the box.  Just before Seth lunged forward to clutch the ball, a Celtic player got to the ball first to kick in the equalizer goal.  Inter kept up its offensive attacking/countering taking 6 shots on goal including 1 free kick by Schillo from 25 yds. left which neary went in far post and a hard left-footed blast by Ebo from 22-25 yds. left which the GK caught, and a hard shot from about 25-30 yds. center by Erik which went over the cross-bar.  Inter also setup 2 corner kicks which were unsuccessful while committing 11 fouls (including 1 handball).  With about 4 mins. left in the match, Schillo passed a nice ball upfield to Chris in the middle who dribbled a few yards up and launched a hard shot from about 22-25 yds. out which sailed into the net for the game-winning goal as the half ended several minutes later.

28 Nov. ’08. The Internationals trekked up to Zarepath, NJ, for its first-time participation in the highly-acclaimed PDA Boys Showcase. It was a cold, mostly cloudy day, and in the first match, Inter faced its recent rival and nemesis, YMS Xplosion, who has had Inter’s number in the last several matches, including a thrilling, double-OT/PK Final at the Potomac Memorial 2008 which Inter fell to YMS in PK’s, and an earlier strong win by YMS in Region I Premier, 3-0. The originally scheduled large pitch was changed to a lower, smaller field due to overnight rain/drainage of the big field. With about 1-2 mins. before kick-off, the previously calm winds kicked up and were gusting strongly throughout the match. The first half of play was mostly even with both sides penetrating deep into the back line, serving or crossing dangerous balls into the box but both defenses cleared away as well as both YMS/GK and Seth each making a good save. At the end of the scoreless half, both YMS and Inter each would manage just 1 shot on goal and setup 2 corner kicks which were unsuccessful. YMS committed 11 fouls while Inter committed 7 fouls (including 1 offsides).

In the 2nd half, Inter’s vaunted defense held YMS to just a single shot on goal which went awry and no corners while committing 8 fouls (including 2 offsides). Inter controlled most of the play, serving several balls into the box, firing 6 times on goal and setup 2 corner kicks which all but one were unsuccessful while committing 8 fouls (including 1 handball & 1 offsides). At the 18 min. mark, Schillo collected a ball upfield, juked a last defender and sent a hard shot into the net past the GK to put Inter up 1-0. With about 1 min. left in the match, Inter again launched an attack deep into YMS’ side. A YMS defender passed-back a ball to the GK but eerily reminiscent of Seth slipping to the turf in the Region I game (allowing what could have been an easily-clutched ball to bounce and roll lazily into the net), the YMS GK attempted to kick the ball on the run and missed it, resulting in the ball easily rolling into the open net for a goal and the match ended several seconds later, 2-0, Inter.

Later in the afternoon, Inter's 2nd match on a now well-drained large full-size field, was against a team it has not faced before, the Massapequa Aces, NY-E Champs 2008.  The sun came out now and then but the clouds and strong winds prevailed for the mostof the match.  The first-half of this match was pretty much even with the Aces taking 2 shots on goal and setup 2 corner kicks which were unsuccessful while committing 5 fouls.  Inter took 3 shots on goal and setup 2 corner kicks which were also unsuccessful while committing 6 fouls (including YC's shown to Pat and Skylar for fouls from behind), and the half ended scoreless.

In the 2nd half,  the Aces managed 3 shots on goal including a hard shot on goal which Seth stopped and the ball rolled precariously across the goal mouth but Philip rushed over to save/kick it away.  The Aces also setup 1 unsuccessful corner kick while committing 4 fouls.   Inter would take 5 shots on goal and 2 corner kicks while committing 8 fouls (including 2 handballs).  At about the 26 min. mark, Erik sent a ball from the middle upfield to Chris around 35 yds. on the left who dribbledto around 15-20 yds. and struck a hard shot while sailed past the GK into the net to put Inter up 1-0.   Due to darkness setting in and no lights, the match was truncated and ended after about 35 min.

23 Nov. '08. The Internationals returned to WRAL for a very early morning 3rd match with Erin Mills Academy Eagles (CND) on a sunny and cold day with relatively calm winds. The Internationals strong defense held the Eagles to no shots taken and 1 corner kick which was unsuccessful while committing 10 fouls. The Internationals launched a barrage of attacks and counter-attacks, shooting 6 shots on goal and 4 corner kick opportunities which were wide or high -- except one.  With about 30 secs. left in the 1st half, Chris collected a ball upfield and distributed a pass to Schillo inside the box who struck in the go-ahead goal and the half ended shortly thereafter.  Inter committed 9 fouls (including 5 offsides).

 In the 2nd half, Inter kicked off and within the 1st min., Chris again collected a ball upfield and passed to Schillo inside the box who fired in the 2nd notch for Inter. Two mins. later, Schillo returned the favor and sent a pass to Chris inside the box who slammed a hard shot into the net to put the Internationals up 3-0. At the 8 min. mark, Vitalis served a nice right corner kick into the goal mouth where Mati was in perfect position to kick in another goal. At the 17 min. mark, Nathaniel sent a cross from about 22 yds. out on the right into the goal mouth where Vitalis struck in the 5th goal. And, at about the 20 min. mark, after a foul on Vitalis in the box by the Eagles, Vitalis stepped up and fired the PK past the GK for the 6th goal. With about 1min. left in the match, Pat sent a nice through-ball pass upfield to Chris in the box who knocked in the 7th goal and the match ended, 7-0, Internationals. The Eagles were held to 2 shots on goal which were unsuccessful while comm itting 4 fouls (including 1 offsides), while the Internationals launched 8 shots on goal and setup 6 corner kicks while committing 4 fouls (including 1 offsides).