Inter Miami CF II emerged victorious 2-0 against Orlando City B in the first-ever Sunshine Showdown in MLS NEXT Pro. The matchup at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale was featured as Week’s 3 “Game of the Week.”
Emerson Rodríguez and Shanyder Borgelin lead the team in pink to earn its second victory this inaugural season.
Inter Miami II took advantage of their locality and was aggressive from the get-go. The team led by Darren Powell gave the first warning at the 7th minute with a shot by Edison Azcona, who was later subbed off following an ankle injury. They opened up the score in the 17th minute after Rodríguez found a pass from Bryce Duke.
OCB searched to tie the game with a shot attempt from outside the box in the 31st minute by Erik Gunera. This was followed by another crack at the 40th minute by Wilfredo Rivera, whose shot hit the post.
The first half ended with the player's emotions getting tested following a foul by Rodriguez, who was booked with a yellow.
In the second half, the team in purple played with long passes in an attempt to find the rival's goal; however, they would quickly lose possession of the ball leading Inter Miami II to respond with counterattacks. In the 55th minute, the home team increased their lead with a second goal after a header from Borgelin that gave Romeo Beckham another assist this season, his 4th, this one from a corner kick.
This victory for Powell and his men puts them at the top of the Eastern Conference standings through three rounds with 7 points and a 2-1-0 record.
The Story: Romeo Beckham, turning into the rival's nightmare
Romeo Beckham continues to consolidate himself as a fundamental part of this Inter Miami CF II team.
Beckham gave an assisted a goal and was a headache for Orlando City B's defense for most of the match.
The 19-year-old forward, who plays as a right-winger, stands out for his speed and precise passing abilities, which remind soccer fans of the time his father, England legend and Inter Miami CF owner, David Beckham, played. Though it may be unfair to compare the younger Beckham to this father, his last two performances make it hard not to.
In three rounds of MLS NEXT Pro, the young Beckham has registered four assists, three of them taking place in the last game against Philadelphia Union II. He has started in two fixtures, played 225 minutes, and has a modest 67 percent pass accuracy.
