Atlanta United 2 cruised to a 3-0 win over Inter Miami CF II on Saturday night at Turner Soccer Complex, snapping a rare rough patch and improving to 9-5-3 on the MLS NEXT Pro season.
Arif Kovac scored his team-leading 13th goal of the season in the 62nd minute, finishing off a cross from Andrew Hardin to give Atlanta a 2-0 lead. The assist was Hardin’s second of the match.
“Arif has been our most consistent player all season,” Atlanta United 2 head coach José Silva said. “He’s going to be in the first-team conversation soon.”
Atlanta opened the scoring in the 51st minute on a goal from Cory Baird, who headed in a corner kick from the right side. Kovac added the second before Atlanta sealed the win on a counter-attack finished by Matias Marine — the team’s goalkeeper, who had pushed up for a late corner.
The win snaps a two-game winless streak for Atlanta United 2, which had been outscored 6-2 in its previous two matches.
Inter Miami CF II, the Herons’ developmental side, remains winless on the season at 0-12-4. The team has scored just six goals in 16 matches.
Atlanta United 2 hits the road next week for matches at Chattanooga FC on Wednesday and Crown Legacy FC on Saturday.
