For the second match in a row, Inter Miami CF II gave up an early goal but rallied back to score three of their own, this time earning a resounding 3-1 victory over Orlando City B Sunday evening at Osceola Heritage Park.
Inter Miami II opened the match with a starting XI featuring CJ dos Santos in goal; Harvey Neville, Abel Caputo, Modesto Mendez, and Logan Batiste in the backline; David Ruiz, Lawson Sunderland, and Braxton Najib in midfield; Romeo Beckham, Tyler Bagley, and Shaan Hundal as the front three.
The hosts started strong as midfielder Neicer Acosta forced an early save from dos Santos in the first five minutes of action to keep the game scoreless. Acosta, however, continued to stay involved in the attack, providing a pass on a give-and-go with forward Moises Tablante, who fired a right-footed shot into the far corner of the net giving Orlando City B an 1-0 advantage in the 13th minute.
Beckham got a chance to respond in the 23rd minute with a left-footed strike from long distance, but pushed it just wide. Then, in the 33rd minute, dos Santos came up big again, this time denying Orlando City B forward Jack Lynn, the league’s co-leading goal scorer on the season.
Tablante’s strike in the 13th minute was the difference as Inter Miami II went into the half down a goal despite owning 60 percent of the possession.
Dairon Reyes made his seventh appearance in the 2022 MLS NEXT Pro campaign coming in as a substitute for Tyler Bagley in the 61st minute. Six minutes later, a failed clearance on a Beckham cross found its way to Sunderland, who then found Najib in front of goal, but the visitors again failed to get past Orlando City B goalkeeper Adam Grinwis.
Inter Miami II continued to put pressure on the hosts as Orlando City B midfielder Joey Dezart fouled Mendez in the box while battling for position on a corner kick. Hundal calmly converted the penalty kick in the 70th minute, tying the game at one while extending his goal-scoring streak to three consecutive matches.
Then, Shanyder Borgelin entered as a sub for Najib in the 77th minute and for the second consecutive game, made an immediate impact on the pitch. Beckham found a streaking Borgelin several yards inside the midfield circle who turned and fired a right-footed strike past the outstretched gloves of Grinwis, giving Inter Miami II a 2-1 lead. The goal was Borgelin’s sixth of the season and marked his third consecutive match with a goal, while Beckham moved into sole possession of first place with his league-leading seventh-assist.
Beckham put the finishing touches on the match just five minutes later, sending a free kick from long range off of the near-post and into the net, all but sealing the comeback victory with his first professional goal.
Drew Hardin came in as an 87th minute sub to help secure the three points on the road.
Inter Miami CF II have now outscored their opponents 10-2 in the last three games and will look to push its winning streak to four as they go on the road to face NYCFC II on July 24. Kickoff at Belson Stadium is set for 6 p.m. ET and will be streamed live on MLSNEXTPro.com.
