Friday, Mar 25, 2022
Inter Miami CF II is set to launch its inaugural MLS NEXT Pro campaign this Saturday, March 26 at 6 p.m. ET when it takes on Eastern Conference Central Division opponents Columbus Crew 2. The match at DRV PNK Stadium will be streamed live on mlsnextpro.com.
“We’ve had quite a long preseason, the players have been in preseason camp since January so I think everyone is super excited to get going in the new league format in MLS NEXT Pro. The players are ready for playing some competition and getting out and starting against Columbus Crew 2 this weekend,” said head coach Darren Powell. “Everything’s new on Saturday. We’re super excited, we’re ready and chomping at the bit to play Columbus.”
Inter Miami CF II will begin its 2022 campaign in a new league with a mix of new and returning faces. Powell returns as head coach of the team after leading the group to a strong 2021 that saw them score the fourth most goals in USL League One. Goalkeeper coach Chris Barocas also returns to the staff while new assistant coaches Federico Higuaín and Ryan Shawcross join the unit, after most recently featuring as players for Inter Miami’s First Team in 2021.
On the roster, over 10 players return from 2021, while three new faces join for 2022. Of the first 14 players signed to Inter Miami CF II, five of them (Logan Batiste, Drew Hardin, Ethan Hardin, Dairon Reyes, David Ruiz) are local Inter Miami CF Academy products, while another two are South Florida natives (Shanyder Borgelin, Abel Caputo).
Columbus Crew 2, meanwhile, is helmed by head coach Laurent Courtois, a former player with experience in Europe and the United States, finishing his career with the LA Galaxy. The team forms part of the Eastern Conference Central Division alongside Inter Miami CF II, Chicago Fire FC II, FC Cincinnati 2 and Orlando City B.
Inter Miami Loans
Inter Miami CF II today announced the acquisition of seven First Team players for the 2022 MLS NEXT Pro season, pending league and federation approval. Under the terms of the loan agreement, the Inter Miami First Team retains the right 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 George Acosta, Noah Allen, CJ dos Santos, Bryce Duke, Nick Marsman, Robbie Robinson and Emerson Rodríguez to Inter Miami CF II for Saturday’s MLS NEXT Pro match.
Acosta, 22, starred on loan with Inter Miami CF II in 2021, leading the team with seven assists. Allen, 17, won USL League One Young Player of the year honors with Inter Miami CF II in 2021. Dos Santos, 21, signed for Inter Miami in Feb. 2022 after spending time with SL Benfica in Portugal. Duke, 21, was acquired by Inter Miami in Jan. 2022 after breaking through at the MLS level with LAFC. Marsman, 31, joined Inter Miami in 2021 and became the team’s starting goalkeeper. Robinson, 23, was the No. 1 pick in the 2020 MLS SuperDraft by Inter Miami and scored four goals for the team in 2021. Rodríguez, 21, signed for Inter Miami in Jan. 2022 as part of the MLS U22 Initiative.
COURTESY INTER MIAMI CF II COMMUNICATIONS
