16 year old academy product tallies decisive game winning-goal for home side
Inter Miami CF II defeats Atlanta United at DRV PNK Stadium in a 3-2 thriller on Sunday night. The match featured goals from attackers Lucas Meek and second half substitute 16-year-old Academy product Miles Perkovich, who gave the home side the winning goal in the 88th minute with a left footed screamer.
The team’s starting XI featured CJ Dos Santos in goal; Israel Boatwright, Modesto Mendez, Farid Sar-Sar, and Noah Allen manning the defensive; captain Abel Caputo managing the midfield with Darion Reyes and Lawson Sunderland; and Lucas Meek, Cameron Johnson, and Lorenzo D’Agostini leading the attack.
Atlanta opened the first half with two early goals from forwards Tyler Wolff and Karim Tmimi, putting the opposing side up 2-0 four minutes into the match. Inter Miami, however, struck back with a beautiful set piece that saw Meek head one into the back of the net from a Reyes corner kick.
The Herons kept the momentum going as minutes later the team equalized with an own goal by Atlanta United II defender, Aiden McFadden. The play started from a whipped in cross from Allen. Meek did well to keep the ball moving and was able to flick the ball on with a back heel across the face of the goal which deflected off the Atlanta United defender before making its way into the back of the net.
After the equalizing goal, Inter Miami kept putting pressure on the visiting team’s backline as they controlled the tempo and possession with great passes and all around play. The score stayed 2-2 as both teams entered the halftime intermission.
Inter Miami CF II saw several second half scoring opportunities with two on-goal shots from Allen and D’Agostini following a shot off the post by Meek. In the 80th minute, a game-changing sub was made as Perkovich entered the pitch for the third time this season. Perkovich wasted no time as he curled one into the top left corner just moments before the end of regulation, scoring one of the team’s top golazos of the season, and solidifying the 3-2 victory.
In the end, Miami came out on top in a high octane bout between the two sides. The team will now carry on with action at home, as Inter Miami II is set to face Philadelphia Union II on Sunday, May 14 at 6 p.m. ET at DRV PNK Stadium.
