By Official Florida FC
Inter Miami (2-0-0, 6 points) beat the team many picked to win MLS Cup this year with a pair of golazos at DRV PNK Stadium on Saturday night.
The Herons beat the Philadelphia Union with wondergoals from Jean Mota and Robert Taylor. The latter was making his season debut and did so with an emphatic volley in the 76th minute to double the Inter Miami advantage.
The Finish international was a mainstay for Inter Miami in 2022, starting 27 league matches and earning 2,222 minutes in the midfield.
Taylor doesn’t score often – Saturday’s goal was his fourth for Inter Miami in two seasons – but when he does, it usually results in three points. Inter Miami has never lost a match he’s scored in. For club and country, his side has only lot once in the last three years when he’s scored.
Inter Miami is off to its best start in its four-year run as an MLS Club. Both wins have come at home. Saturday, Phil Neville’s squad faces a New York City FC squad in search of its first win.
Orlando City, Cincinnati split spoils
Elsewhere in the Sunshine State, Orlando City prepared for its debut in the CONCACAF Champions League by producing a second straight clean sheet.
The Lions (1-0-1, 4 points) had less possession, fewer shots on goal and connected on 27 percent fewer passes than the visitors. But, they weren’t breached.
“Under the circumstances and obviously with the good rival we had in front of us, the guys put in the performance and competed and we are proud,” Orlando City head coach Oscar Pareja told the team’s website at fulltime.
“We are proud and we are happy to get the result. At home, we need to win, but this team needs to be balanced with things. When we cannot win it, we just need to get the result and work out with the point.”
Orlando City will face Tigres on Tuesday night in its Champions League opener. Orlando City will host the second leg on March 15.
