Inter Miami II rallies for 4-2 MLS Next Pro win against Columbus
Yuval Cohen scored twice — his second-straight match with two goals — as the Young Herons stay in-form between Open Cup matches.
Bailey Sparks and Gio Ferraina, 94, congratulate Yuval Cohen after he scored Wednesday against Miami United in the U.S. Open Cup first round. Photo: thecup.us.
Cristian “Lobo” Ledesma’s Inter Miami II side is growing into the season. After starting its MLS Next Pro schedule with a loss and a tie, the Young Herons posted back-to-back 4-2 wins, Wednesday against UPSL side Miami United in the first round of the Lamar Hunt U. S. Open Cup, and Sunday over Next Pro rival Columbus Crew 2.
Yuval Cohen scored twice in both wins for the Herons’ suddenly potent attack.
Crew 2 took an early 1-0 lead at Chase Stadium on Nicolas Rincon’s third-minute goal, but a Columbus own-goal and Cohen’s first score gave Inter Miami II a 2-1 halftime advantage. Chase Adams’ penalty kick pulled the Crew even in the 56th minute, but Idoh Zeltzer-Zubida scored 10 minutes later. Cohen added the final goal in the 85th-minute to clinch the victory for the Herons.
Inter Miami II (1-1-1, 4 points) is fourth in the Next Pro standings, but the Herons and Crew are the only teams to have played three league matches. Chattanooga FC is in first, having won its first two matches for six points.
Inter Miami II March results
7 — Chattanooga FC 1-2 L
13 — Carolina Core 1-1 D
19 — Miami United (Open Cup) 4-2 W
23 — Columbus Crew2 4-2 W
Matias Marin again started in goal for Inter Miami II; the first 11 also included Giovanni Ferraina (captain), Tyler Hall, Nicolas Almeida and Samuel Asabe as the back four; Bailey Sparks, Alejandro Flores De La Paz, Zeltzer-Zubida and Ricardo Montenegro in midfield; and forwards Cohen and Mateo Saja leading the Herons’ attack.
The Young Herons will host Miami FC — a USL Championship (second division) team — in the second round of the Open Cup at 7:30 p.m. ET Tuesday, April 1.