I’ll quickly gloss over the 5-0 ass whooping 9 of us were handed on Saturday morning, and instead focus on the incredible performance of the Inter boys Sunday, substantially reversing the early season loss to these lads. Crisp in the attack with Benny again shouting for everything (but in a markedly better mood in this post-smoking period) and finishing too.

We came at them like we had three or four subs, and with the intensity of the previous days performance with only 9 – and were very quickly camped in their half – mid field maestros Alex, Gavin and Mauricio toiled away to retain possession, and it wasn’t long before Benny got on the end of something and battered it past their ‘keeper who otherwise had a terrific game. Continued pressure earned us a corner before too long, and Alex put the ball right on Benny’s head. Benny had got the perfect amount of height on his jump and the contact was exquisite. Downward trajectory, their ‘keeper had no chance.

The second half was all about the defense, and with Sean weakened with a sore ankle, he hobbled to keep pressure on their back line but it was hard work. They switched to three up in the second period and though we had their moves covered it was only our intensity and focus that kept us in it. Matt McGough was outstanding and defensive mid and punished their lack of consistency in the first touch. Matt challenged for everything and ran his legs off. But it was the soon to be departing Diego De La Riva, jet engine acoustician that held the back line together – he was the glue that kept the line intact and kept Paolo, Chris and me (Dayle) together. Greg’s performance in goal was his best this season, and the only one past him was after a very questionable penalty awarded against Mauricio who was screening the ball on the edge of our 18 yard box. It’s always tough to save penalty’s – but generous though the call was, that spot kick was all they got through the Inter back line.

Coachella was no friend of Inter either, keeping out stalwarts Zach and Ally Christie.
More next week as Inter hunt down a play off spot.