Inter Miami CF II Goals: Morales 10’ PK, Afonso 12’, 83’
New York City FC II Goals: Shore 49’, Arévalo 74’
Quick Read
New York City FC II opened up their 2024 MLS NEXT Pro campaign with a defeat to Inter Miami CF II. The hosts took the lead in the 10th minute through a Santiago Morales penalty before Leonardo Afonso doubled that advantage two minutes later. The deficit was halved in the 49th minute after a brilliant run and finish by Jonathan Shore before Ronald Arévalo tied the game up in the 74th minute. Afonso scored his second of the day in the 83rd minute to hand the hosts all three points.
Match Recap
The season started in the Sunshine State for New York City FC II as they took on Inter Miami CF II on Sunday.
Miami included several first-team players in their XI with Franco Negri, Lawson Sunderland, and Ryan Sailor lining up for the game.
Meanwhile, NYCFC II Head Coach Matthew Pilkington handed debuts to four new faces; Tomás Romero, Chris Tiao, Malachi Jones, and Taylor Calheira all making the XI.
The hosts started the brighter of the two sides and were rewarded with a penalty in the tenth minute - Santiago Morales converting the spot kick.
Miami doubled their advantage minutes later after Leonardo Afonso beat the offside trap and converted with a low shot past Romero.
The second half brought with it no changes for the visitors, but they did find an early goal through Jonathan Shore. Arriving in the 49th minute, Shore picked up the ball wide left and after driving past his man toward the byline he converted from the narrowest of angles to halve Miami’s advantage.
New York City FC II were now firmly in the ascendency and Malachi Jones almost equalized in the 54th minute after finding space inside the Miami penalty area – his effort lacking the clean contact that was required.
A little after the hour mark Pilkington turned to his bench for the first time as he introduced Ronald Arévalo in place of Máximo Carrizo. City almost found an equalizer midway through the second half after a smart one-two involving Jones on the left of the penalty area allowed him to fire off a vicious low drive that required an intervention from the goalkeeper.
Pilkington’s side would eventually level things up in the 74th minute thanks to substitute Arévalo – the winger pouncing on a rebound after Calheira’s initial header was saved.
The momentum had now firmly swung in favor of the visitors and their intense press was proving a problem for Miami as they attempted to play out from the back.
Despite that pressure, however, it would be Miami that claimed the fifth goal of the game after Afonso converted from the top of the box with a low drive in the 83rd minute.
Miami were reduced to ten men in the closing minutes after Ricardo Montenegro collected a second yellow card for a foul on Shore.
Unfortunately, Afonso’s second of the game would prove to be the decisive goal on the day, which meant City suffered a 3-2 opening-day defeat in MLS NEXT Pro.
How We Lined Up
What's Next
Next up for New York City FC II is a game against FC Motown on Thursday, March 21. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30PM ET.
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