Minerva Academy Football Club became the first Indian club to win the Gothia Cup – the Youth World Cup for the U13 level. They defeated Brazilian side Ordin FC 3-1 in the final to achieve the historic feat.
Thiyam and Sanathoi helped the team surge ahead in the very early stages of the game, scoring in the first and fifth minute. The Indian club had the upper hand right from the beginning in Sweden, and Thiyam doubled his tally to make it 3-1 with 23 minutes played in the final of the tournament.
Minerva Academy Football Club win Gothia Cup to make history
Brazilian and Spanish teams are usually the favourites to win the tournament, which has seen participation from international legends like Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Xabi Alonso and Andrea Pirlo. But, Minerva Academy were able to overcome the odds and put up a dominant performance at the international stage.
They defeated Spanish club Tecnifutbol Academy 2-0 to seal their spot in the final. And throughout the tournament, they scored a remarkable 46 goals while only conceding two.
The second half of the game saw them defend resolutely to keep out Ordin and their skillful players. It is a historic achievement for an Indian club, and is yet another testament to the recent spike in the growth of football in the country.
