Inter Miami CF II earned a 2-0 victory over Orlando City B on Sunday afternoon at DRV PNK Stadium in the MLS NEXT Pro Game of the Week. Goals from Emerson Rodriguez and Shanyder Borgelin were the difference makers on Sunday.
“I thought it was a very, very good game of fútbol. Both teams were trying to play and impose their style on one another. So to keep a clean sheet against a really good team at home means an awful lot. I feel like the players again tonight showed desire, passion, and determination.”
Inter Miami II again opened the match with a starting XI featuring a mix of First Team loanees and MLS NEXT Pro players. CJ dos Santos once again manned the net; Harvey Neville, Modesto Mendez, Ethan Hardin and Noah Allen started in defense; Abel Caputo, Bryce Duke and Edison Azcona lined up in midfield; Romeo Beckham and Emerson Rodríguez flanked Shanyder Borgelin in attack.
The hosts took an early lead, opening the scoring in the 17th minute against its Florida-based opponents. Azcona played a pass to Beckham near the halfway line, who then cut a splitting pass to Duke in open space surging forward. The young midfielder then played a through ball to Rodríguez behind the defense down the left side of the box, who then curled a low shot past the keeper, inside the far post, and into the back of the net for the 1-0 lead. The goal was Rodríguez’s third in just two matches with Inter Miami CF II this season, while the assist was Duke’s first.
Inter Miami II held its lead through the halftime whistle thanks to strong defending and good goalkeeping, including a diving save by dos Santos, a strong tackle in the box by Neville, and a timely interception by Hardin.
At halftime, Inter Miami II brought on winger Dairon Reyes for the goalscorer Rodríguez. The move marked the first appearance of the 2022 season for Academy product Reyes.
The hosts extended their lead just ten minutes into the second half; Beckham delivered a corner to the far post, meeting the run of Borgelin, who latched onto the pass and headed it into the back of the net to make it 2-0. The goal was Borgelin’s third in the last two matches and the assist was Beckham’s fourth in the last two matches.
A few minutes after the second goal, Inter Miami II made two more substitutions, bringing Joevin Jones and Lawson Sunderland on for Allen and Duke. This marked Sunderland’s club debut, and First Team loanee Jones’ first appearance since suffering a long-term injury during the 2021 MLS season.
The team held its two-goal lead for the remainder of the match, thanks again to a stout backline. Notably, dos Santos again impressed in the 86th minute, making a double save on a pair of close-range efforts in quick succession by Orlando. The result saw the team remain unbeaten and secure its second win in three matches.
Inter Miami II will hit the road for the first time in 2022 next weekend when it visits NYCFC II on Saturday, April 16 at 1 p.m. ET.
