Inter Miami CF on Sunday passed another milestone on the path to their 2020 MLS expansion debut, with their Under-17/18 academy team playing the first match in club history as they began their run in a youth tournament in South Korea.
Inter’s kids won 2-0, defeating Korean side Ansan in their first match of the 2019 K League U-17 Championship event via two goals from Miami native Alexander Lozano, one in each half. The Miami side were coached by Jason Kreis, Inter’s senior academy director, who arrayed his side in a 4-3-3 formation.
Inter Miami vs. Ansan | Inter Miami CF
“It was a good first, official match for the team and a positive step in the right direction,” said Kreis in a club release. “We still have a long way to go in bringing our players together playing our style of soccer, but this was a great experience for everyone, and the players had a lot of fun.”
Inter Miami’s U-17/18s will play their next match on Tuesday, against Seoul E, part of a total of four matches; semifinals take place on Monday, Aug. 19 and the final is scheduled for the following day.
“The game was really intense. Everything was at 100% but we never gave up. We were sprinting every ball that we could, and when we lost it, we did everything to win it back,” said Lozano, a product of Kendall SC. “I love to enjoy myself on the field especially wearing this badge. Inter Miami represents my home, my family, and it felt great to play with the best players from all of South Florida.”
Inter make their MLS debut next March.
Inter Miami lineup/subs: GK Mauricio Uribe, D Jason Bucknor (Noah Allen ‘51), Fabrizio Cubbedu (Kai Thomas ‘61) , Esteban Espinoza, Ian Fray, M Edison Azcona (Nicolas Pereira ‘68), Francisco Raggio, Andres Torrealba (Moises Cuartas ‘75), F Andres Cardenas (Giancarlo Gonzalez ‘71), Nicolas Diaz (Brian Hernandez ‘57), Alexander Lozano
