Inter Miami CF II (2W-3L-0D, 6 pts) earned a 4-3 win over Huntsville City FC at DRV PNK Stadium on Sunday evening. Today’s victory featured first professional career goals for 17-year-old Academy products Lorenzo D’Agostini and Cesar Abadia-Reda, a first goal of the 2023 season for Dairon Reyes, and Jake LaCava’s first goal since joining the Club.
The starting XI for Federico Higuain’s side featured goalkeeper Cole Jensen in goal; Noah Allen, Abel Caputo, Aime Mabika, and Nykolas Sessock in defense; captain Benjamin Cremaschi led the midfield along Joseph Convers, Reyes, and LaCava; Lawson Sunderland led the attack alongside D’Agostini.
First half of the match opened with a few shots on target by both teams, but it was the visiting team who scored first in the 25th minute by Huntsville midfielder Jonathan Bolanos. Minutes later, England native Shaun Joash scored the second goal for the team assisted by a cross from attacker Oliver Wright in the 32nd minute.
The Herons, however, struck back after a high-intensity play and a rebound goal by D’Agostini in the 38th minute, which marked the first of his MLS NEXT Pro career. Two minutes later, Allen sent a beautiful through ball over the top to LaCava, who also scored his first goal in an Inter Miami uniform, drawing the home side level at 2-2 as the teams entered the halftime intermission. The assist for Allen comes in his first match back after missing the beginning of the 2023 season with a knee injury.
Shortly after the halftime intermission, Inter Miami made three game-changing substitutions as Kobi Thomas, Lukas Meek and Cesar Abadia-Reda entered the match. Abadia-Reda wasted no time, scoring his first goal of the season just 20 seconds after stepping onto the pitch, giving Inter Miami CF a 3-2 advantage.
Inter Miami doubled the lead from the penalty spot after Huntsville defender Chrisnovic N’sa committed a foul in the penalty area on LaCava in the 74th minute. Midfielder Reyes stepped up to convert the penalty with a left footed placement to the bottom left corner.
Huntsville was able to pull one back in second half stoppage time as Kemy Amiche made it 4-3, but Inter Miami was able to hold on and secure the 4-3 victory at DRV PNK Stadium.
Up next, Inter Miami II is set to hit the road to face Columbus Crew 2 at Historic Crew Stadium at 5 p.m. ET on Sunday, April 30.
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