In Costa Brava, Spain, on Friday, Minerva Academy stunned Liverpool FC’s youth side with a commanding 6-0 win in the Round of 16 of the MIC Cup, delivering one of the most striking results involving an Indian academy team at this level.
The scoreline tells only part of the story. What stood out was the control.
Minerva were 3-0 up by half-time and never allowed Liverpool to settle. Md Azam Khan opened the scoring early with a composed finish. Amarson Singh followed it up with a confident strike, while Wahengbam Raj Singh took over the game with a hat-trick, including a long-range effort that summed up Minerva’s confidence.
From the first whistle, Minerva pressed high and played with intensity. Their approach disrupted Liverpool’s build-up and forced errors in dangerous areas. Even in possession, there was clarity. Quick passing, direct running and sharp decision-making made the difference.
This was not a case of sitting back and countering. Minerva dictated the tempo.
A large part of this group is not new to such stages. Many of these players were part of the same core that impressed in European youth tournaments at the under-14 level last year, where they finished on top in competitions like the Gothia Cup, Dana Cup and Norway Cup. That experience was visible in how comfortably they handled both the occasion and the opposition.
Liverpool, despite their structured academy setup, struggled to cope with the pressure. Minerva’s players looked technically sharp and physically ready, matching their opponents in every aspect and often going a step ahead.
The larger context adds weight, but the performance itself is the real takeaway. At the under-15 level, such dominance against a European academy side is rare for an Indian team. But more than the result, it was the way Minerva played that stood out.
For Indian football, the focus often shifts quickly to what this could mean in the long term. But this performance deserves to be seen for what it was — a complete, controlled display on the pitch.
Minerva Academy beat Liverpool 6-0 to enter MIC Cup quarters
