On Saturday 3/14 Team Chicago Academy – Internacional had a very productive Scrimmage-Date with the two top clubs in Michigan.

Playing at the impressive Total Sports Complex in Wixom, MI, Internacional played two 11v11 scrimmages on FieldTurf against the Michigan Hawks and Vardar. Over the past 10-15 years, the two clubs have shared almost every single Michigan State Championship between them, so they were formidable opponents.

At 2pm Internacional squared off against the Hawks in a 60-minute scrimmage with no halftime, and considering that it was the first 11v11 game in more than 4 months, Internacional played really well. The Hawks probably had a little bite more of the play, but we were still unlucky to lose 1-0 in a very hard-fought game.

After only a 90-minute break, Internacional faced a Vardar team, which was playing in its first game of the day in a 2×35-minutes game. And while Internacional played some great possession soccer and created a few good chances, the extra spring in the Vardar players’ steps allowed them to win the game by a flattering 3-0 score-line.

All-in-all, it was a great day for Internacional. It was exactly the type of experience the team needed in preparation for the fast approaching Spring season. And it allowed Coach Phil to see the players in a new 4-2-3-1 formation against two of the best teams in the Midwest.

The performance in the scrimmages bodes well for the Spring season.