Minerva Academy’s Under-12 Team Triumphs at Gothia Cup
Minerva Academy’s Under-12 boys have once again made headlines by defending their title at the prestigious Gothia Cup, defeating the Brazilian team RS Sports Yellow 2-1 in a thrilling final. This victory follows their recent win at the Helsinki Cup, adding yet another trophy to their impressive collection during their European tour.
After securing the Helsinki Cup, which completed unfinished business from the previous year, Minerva aimed to establish themselves as a top contender. They proved their worth against strong international competition, showcasing why they are regarded as one of the leading youth academies outside of Europe.
Kipgen Thangsanglen opened the scoring for Minerva, and after RS Sports Yellow equalized, Mekhamkhraw Nongrem scored a stunning free-kick to regain the lead. The team held on tightly to secure their second consecutive Gothia Cup.
This latest achievement is part of an incredible journey for Minerva Academy, which has garnered attention over the past two summers through a series of impressive performances across Europe.
Impressive Tournament Journey
Minerva’s road to victory saw them dominate throughout, scoring an impressive number of goals from the group stage all the way to the knockout rounds.
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Group Stage Results:
- Defeated Prep Schools Pumas Blue (England) 12-0
- Defeated Lillestrom SK 3 (Norway) 13-1
- Defeated Surte IS FK (Sweden) 16-0
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Knockout Stage Results:
- Round of 64: Defeated Legacy Academy (Kenya) 6-2
- Round of 32: Defeated Prep Schools Lions (England) 10-1
- Round of 16: Defeated OFC Couronnes (France) 17-1
- Quarter-final: Defeated Cancheritos FC (Bolivia) 8-0
- Semi-final: Defeated FC Lokomotyv Kyiv (Ukraine) 3-2
- Final: Defeated RS Sports Yellow (Brazil) 2-1
Their only real challenge came in the semi-finals against FC Lokomotyv Kyiv, where Minerva ramped up their performance just when it was needed most, paving the way to their final win against Brazil.
Continued Success in Europe
Winning the Gothia Cup is particularly special for Minerva, as they entered Sweden as the defending champions. Instead of feeling pressured by expectations, they embraced the challenge and retained one of the world’s most recognized youth football titles just days after clinching the Helsinki Cup.
The back-to-back titles add to an impressive list of achievements, which includes victories at the Norway Cup and Dana Cup. Earlier this year, they also secured a 6-0 win against Liverpool’s Under-15 team at the Mediterranean International Cup, affirming the high level of talent within this group.
What once seemed like isolated victories are now forming a consistent trend. Throughout their travels in Europe over the last two years, Minerva Academy has not only showcased their skill but also raised the standard for Indian youth football.
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