Indoor USMNT Battles Namibia in Opening Nkosi Cup Match
CAPE TOWN, South Africa – It was a full 40-minute battle between the No. 15 U.S. Men’s National Indoor Team and higher ranked No. 8 Namibia in the first game of the men’s 2025 Nkosi Cup in Cape Town, South Africa. The contest was intense, with the final minutes seeing the scoreline shift with six goals scored, but it was Namibia who came out on top, 6-5.
USA found themselves trailing early when Namibia scored in the second minute of play. It was the only goal of the first frame, as the Wolves defense locked in for the remainder of the period.
Although Namibia extended their lead off a penalty corner in the second quarter, USA made it 2-1 at halftime when Pat Harris set Alex Beauduin up for a diving goal.
Out of the break, the Wolves evened the contest when Alberto Montilla fired a shot in toward the near post. Namibia regained the lead in the 27th minute to make it 3-2.
The final quarter was action packed, with six goals scored and the scoreline changing multiple times. After Namibia had a goal disallowed, USA capitalized when Alberto Montilla scored off a penalty stroke to make it 3-3. The 35th minute alone saw three goals scored. First, Pat Harris converted off a penalty corner to give USA their first lead at 4-3. That was short lived as Namibia tallied a field goal and moments later finished a penalty stroke.
Namibia extended their goal margin to two in the 38th minute off a penalty corner. USA didn’t let up and as the clock ticked down, and in the final minute, Alberto Montilla recorded his hat trick. Namibia held on to win 6-5.
Player of the Match: Alberto Montilla
Key Moments:
- 2’ Namibia opens the scoring off an early field goal (1-0)
- 6’ Alex Beauduin has a chance to even the game, but his shot went wide
- 15’ Namibia extends lead off a penalty corner
- 18’ Alex Beauduin dives and scores for USA to make it 2-1
- 20’ Goalkeeper Shomik Chakraborty with a clutch save
- 23’ Alberto Montilla equalizes sending it toward the near post to bring it to 2-2
- 27’ Namibia regains the lead off a field goal (3-2)
- 33’ Namibia had a goal disallowed
- 33’ Alberto Montilla adds his second of the game off a penalty stroke, score is 3-3
- 33’ Back-to-back green cards issued to Alex Beauduin and Jasper Pouw
- 35’ Pat Harris converts off a penalty corner to give USA their first lead at 4-3
- 35’ Namibia wastes no time to even the score (4-4)
- 35’ Namibia earns a penalty stroke and scores to make it 5-4
- 38’ Namibia extends goal margin to two (6-4)
- 39’ USA cuts the margin on a field goal from Alberto Montilla to bring it to 6-5
Noteworthy:
- Seven USA athlete earned their first international indoor caps: Doug Allison, Alex Beauduin, Shomik Chakraborty (GK), Mehtab Grewal, Michael Mendoza, Alberto Montilla, Jasper Pouw
- Alex Beauduin and Alberto Montilla (3) scored their first international indoor goals
- The last time Namibia and USA met was at the 2023 Nkosi Cup, where Namibia won 6-2 and 5-3
Thoughts from Head Coach Pat Cota: "This is a fantastic experience here at the Nkosi Cup, where we can introduce eight new players with their first international experience in the indoor game. I applaud the group for their effort and character they demonstrated in competing. We will have to quickly onboard our learnings as we move forward through the weekend. We are here to grow and are ready to take on the challenges ahead."
Next Up: The Indoor USMNT has two games of the 2025 Nkosi Cup tomorrow, Saturday, December 13, first at 6:00 a.m. ET against No. 6 South Africa and then at 10:20 a.m. ET against No. 18 New Zealand.
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