For a second consecutive match, Inter Miami CF II finished with a come-from-behind draw away from home as the team wrapped up a three-game road trip, this time ending regulation 1-1 against FC Cincinnati 2. The result extended the team’s unbeaten run to five, while the team also earned an extra point with a 4-3 penalty shootout victory in its final MLS NEXT Pro regular season meeting against Cincinnati.
Inter Miami opened the match with a starting XI featuring CJ dos Santos in goal; Harvey Neville, Jairo Quinteros, Abel Caputo, and Noah Allen in the backline; David Ruiz, Dairon Reyes, and Lawson Sunderland in midfield; Romeo Beckham, Shaan Hundal, and Shanyder Borgelin as the front three.
FC Cincinnati 2 started the game off by taking an early lead from Harrison Robledo, who knocked in his first goal of the season with a free-kick that snuck over the Inter Miami defensive wall in the opening minutes of the match. The hosts continued the first-half pressure when forward Arquimides Ordóñez fired a right-footed shot in front of the goal that dos Santos was able to make a diving save on to keep the score at 1-0.
In the 45th minute, Sunderland snuck a shot into the goal, appearing to find an equalizer, but it was overturned due to an offside with the score remaining 1-0 at the half. Despite four first-half corners, and over 64% possession in the first half, Inter Miami II was unable to find the back of the net.
Inter Miami CF II returned in the second half with the same XI that started the match. Looking to even the score in the 61st minute, Allen sent a pass back towards the middle of the box to set up Reyes who was able to push a left-footed shot past the keeper into the net. Reyes scored his first career MLS NEXT Pro goal in his ninth appearance of the season; it was also the second goal in his professional career with Inter Miami II. For Allen, it was his third assist of the season and second in consecutive weeks.
Inter Miami CF II continued to apply pressure in the second half as the club picked up four more corner kicks. In the 66th minute, Beckham sent a corner kick that was headed just high of the goal.
With five minutes of extra time added to the end of the game, both tried to balance attacking by sending more players forward and keeping enough back to defend on the break. In the 92nd minute, Quinteros made a diving tackle to prevent a chance for FC Cincinnati to put a shot on goal, sealing the draw and sending the match into penalties.
In penalties, Beckham, Allen, second-half substitute Bryan Destin, and captain Caputo all netted, while dos Santos made a crucial save to claim the extra point from the 4-3 victory on penalties.
Inter Miami CF II will return to DRV PNK Stadium on Sunday, Aug. 7 to face New England Revolution II at 7 p.m E.T for the third and final regular season match between two clubs. Inter Miami II defeated New England 2-0 at DRV PNK Stadium in June.
