Inter Miami CF II scored a late stoppage time winner against Philadelphia Union II at Subaru Park on Sunday afternoon. Captain Farid Sar-Sar's late goal sealed the 1-2 road win, the team’s first of the 2023 MLS Next Pro season, with forward Lucas Meek scoring Inter Miami II’s other goal of the afternoon.
The starting XI for the team’s first match away from home in 2023 featured CJ Dos Santos in goal; Nykolas Sessock, Tyler Hall, captain Sar-Sar, Israel Boatwright manning the defense; David Ruiz, Edison Azcona, Joseph Convers in the midfield; and Dairon Reyes, Lorenzo D’Agostini, and Meek leading the attack.
The match marked Federico Higuain’s first win as a head coach as well as professional debuts by Sar-Sar, Meek, D’Agostini, and Italo Addimandi, who came on as a substitute in the second half, and Sessock’s first start of his MLS NEXT PRO career.
Both sides came out firing in the first half with each team marking six shots of their own. But in the 12th minute, it was Inter Miami CF II who struck first when Meek put the ball in the back of the net near the goal area, recording his first goal of the season, after a deflected shot from Sar-Sar.
Philadelphia Union II did have a couple chances of their own to level the game with shots from Jose Riasco, Stefan Stojanovic, Maike Villero, and an offside goal from Nelson Pierre. However, Inter Miami CF II’s defense stayed strong throughout the half with two saves by Dos Santos and a blocked shot by Hall.
Higuain’s men ended the half with five shots on goal and a passing accuracy of 85%.
In the early minutes of the second half, Dos Santos had an extraordinary save off a Philadelphia free kick that could have tied the game. But Inter Miami CF II fought back, and almost put themselves ahead 2-0 after another shot on goal by Meek. The high intensity from both teams continued throughout the half, tallying up a total of 14 shots on goal from both sides.
In the 87th minute, Philadelphia Union II equalized with a goal from Pierre who was assisted by Luciano Sanchez. However, Inter Miami II struck again in the dying moments, as Sar-Sar tapped in a late goal in the 90th + 4 minute, recording his first goal of the season.
The team will now carry on with action on the road, as Inter Miami II is set to face Orlando City B on Sunday, April 9 at 6 p.m. ET at Osceola Heritage Park.
