PREVIEW | FC Cincinnati 2, Inter Miami CF II set for Sunday night clash at DRV PNK Stadium
FC Cincinnati 2 travel to South Florida this Sunday, September 10 as they take on Inter Miami CF II at DRV PNK Stadium. Cincinnati and Miami will look to bounce back from Matchday 25 losses against Atlanta and Columbus and close out the 2023 season with a run of positive results.
Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. ET with the match streaming live on MLSNEXTPro.com
FC CINCINNATI 2 at INTER MIAMI CF II – SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2023 – 6 p.m. ET – DRV PNK STADIUM
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ALL-TIME SERIES
Sunday’s match will be the sixth all-time meeting between the two sides and third of the 2023 season. The Orange and Blue are 1-3-1 against Inter Miami CF II, having picked up their first win of the series against the Herons on July 16.
THE LAST MEETING
The Orange and Blue leveled the season series against the Herons with a 3-1 win at Scudamore Field at NKU Soccer Stadium in July. Malik Pinto, Ben Stitz and Arquimides Ordoñez were all on the scoresheet in the win while Lorenzo D’Agostini netted for the visitors late in the second half.
SCOUTING INTER MIAMI CF II (4-16-5, 18 PTS., 13TH EASTERN CONFERENCE)
Inter Miami CF II are ready to turn the page on what has been a disappointing 2023 MLS NEXT Pro season. After finishing their inaugural season sixth in the Eastern Conference, just four points off a playoff spot, the Herons find themselves bottom of the table on 18 points through 25 matches. Miami will look to close out the regular season on a high as they play two of their final three matches at home beginning with Cincinnati on Sunday.
Finding the back of the net has been an issue for the Herons this year as they have mustered just 26 goals heading into the last three matchdays of the season. Lucas Meek leads Miami on the year with four goals but has not scored in his last 10 MLS NEXT Pro appearances. Miles Perkovich, who has three goals to his name for the Herons, earned MLS NEXT Rising Star of Matchday 22 with a brace against Chicago Fire FC II and carries a threat in attack.
But the bigger issue has been in defending as the Herons have allowed 62 goals, the second-highest total across the league. Miami is the only team in MLS NEXT Pro this season yet to keep a clean sheet and have conceded multiple goals in five straight matches. Opponents have scored four or more goals against the Herons in five matches this season.
Three of Miami’s four-season wins have come at DRV PNK Stadium and featured impressive results for the Herons, including a win against this weekend’s opponents in FC Cincinnati 2. In those three wins, Miami have scored 10 goals but allowed six.
FCC NOTES
Season series up for grabs – FC Cincinnati 2 and Inter Miami CF II will battle for the season series Sunday night in Fort Lauderdale. Each team has earned three points with 3-1 wins at their home venues. Cincinnati holds a 2-2 record in extra time shootouts this season while Miami are 1-4, should the match advance to that point.
The scoring touch – Ben Stitz notched his seventh goal of the season last Saturday against Atlanta United 2. The first-year forward for FC Cincinnati 2 is just two goals off Arquimides Ordoñez team-leading nine goals and has scored two goals in his last four league appearances.
A familiar foe – Cincinnati’s sixth all-time meeting against Miami this weekend will be the most against any single MLS NEXT Pro opponent. Orlando City B will tie that mark in the final match of the season in Kissimmee, Fla.
Enjoy the sunshine – FC Cincinnati 2 will play two of their final three matches in the Sunshine State. The Orange and Blue return home following this weekend’s match in Fort Lauderdale before wrapping up the season in Kissimmee, Florida in September 24.
2,000 minutes – After playing 90 minutes against Atlanta United 2 last Saturday, Isaiah Foster became the first player this season for FC Cincinnati 2 to log over 2,000 minutes. Foster has played in 24 of the Orange and Blue’s 25 matches and has played a full 90 in 21 of those matches.
