Stockholm [Sweden]July 23 (ANI): Minerva Academy FC made history as it became the first ever Indian club to win the Gothia Cup held in Sweden on Saturday, defeating Ordin FC, a Brazilian side.
Minerva beat Ordin 3-1 in the Boys 13 category.
According to the tournament’s website, “The Gothia Cup is the world’s largest and most international youth football tournament. Each year, approximately 1,700 teams from 80 nations participate and they play 4,500 matches on 110 pitches.” The first ever edition of the tournament was held in 1975 and it is owned by BK Hacken, a top Swedish football club. India got off to a good start scoring two goals in the first five minutes of the match.
But the Brazilian team hit back with a goal in the first half. The Indians again took their two-goal lead before the halftime buzzer.
India managed to keep Ordin away from their goal in the second half with brilliant defending and won the match.
The club acknowledged the win on their official Twitter handle.
“WORLD CHAMPIONS! Records broken, history made and the Indian flag held high. A massive feat and a statement in World Football as Minerva Academy emerge as Champions of GothiaCup2023 beat Brazil’s Ordin FC by a 3-1 margin in the final!!,” the club tweeted.
“This is a momentous day for Indian football. We have been working hard for months for this,” the team’s goalkeeper, Yoihenba Khwairakpam, was quoted as saying by the competition’s website.
“It’s very emotional, especially because we have such strong support from our fans in the stands, who are cheering for us and our country. It feels great to represent India by winning the Gothia Cup. I think everyone who supported us during this journey is as proud of us as we are of them,” he added. (ANI)
Source: sn.dk
