MATCH PREVIEW: Inter Miami CF II to Visit New York City FC II on Saturday

Inter Miami CF II is back in action this Saturday for its first road game of the season as they face New York City FC II on Saturday, April 16 at 1 p.m. ET at Belson Stadium. The match will be aired live on www.mlsnextpro.com.

“I’m really pleased with the whole group. I think this group, with the environment that we have, it doesn’t matter who’s training with us on any given day, whether it’s a second team player or a first team player, the staff is committed to getting these players better. I think all the players have improved this spring so far, and will improve by the same leaps and bounds over summer,” said head coach Darren Powell.

In the team’s previous game, Inter Miami CF II hosted Orlando City B at DRV PNK Stadium, earning a convincing 2-0 victory over the visitors. Several MLS NEXT Pro players and First Team loanees combined for the hosts’ first goal; Edison Azcona, Romeo Beckham and Bryce Duke all played in tandem to set up Emerson Rodriguez for his third goal in two matches with Inter Miami CF II this season.

Beckham also earned his fourth assist in two games, teeing up Shanyder Borgelin off of a corner for the team’s second goal of the match, and Borgelin’s third goal in the last two matches. The victory against Orlando City B places Inter Miami CF II at the top of the Eastern Conference standings, with seven points from two wins and one draw.

Several players made key appearances against Orlando City B; Joevin Jones returned from a long term injury, Lawson Sunderland made his club debut, and Dairon Reyes made his first appearance of the 2022 season.

New York City FC II enters this match following a 3-1 defeat against Toronto FC II. NYCFC II currently sits in eighth place in the Eastern Conference standings, with two points from two draws and one loss.

Inter Miami CF II announced the acquisition of one First Team player on loan, pending league and federation approval. Under the terms of the loan agreement, the Inter Miami First Team retains the rights to recall all players at any point during the remainder of the MLS regular season, subject to MLS roster compliance guidelines. The team has loaned goalkeeper CJ dos Santos for Saturday’s MLS NEXT Pro match.

Dos Santos, 21, signed for Inter Miami in Feb. 2022 after spending time with SL Benfica in Portugal. Against Orlando City B over the weekend, dos Santos denied the visitors a standout double save late in the game, maintaining a clean sheet for Inter Miami CF II.