Minerva Academy booked a victory over Barcelona Academy in the quarter-finals of Mina Cup for U-12, being organized in Dubai.
Denish opened the score board with a goal in the 8th minute, letting Minerva Academy dominate the contest. Barcelona managed to get their attack going, however Minerva scored on the counters.
Sanathoi’s skills were magnificent as he found the back of the net to double the lead.
Minerva maintained their lead, forcing their opponents on the backfoot.
Some silly work in defence gave the side another chance at goal, with Thiyam scoring his first goal. Thiyam displayed great individual skills.
Thiyam completed his hat-trick in the 29th minute from a freekick. It was far distanced, but he decided to take it on and completely puzzled the goalkeeper, who could just watch the ball fly past him.
Minerva had earlier defeated Go-Pro Sports Academy, one of the top-ranked academies from Dubai, 6-0 in their first game.
Denish and Thiyam scored 2 goals each and 1 by Sanathoi for the Minerva Academy to set up the majestic win.
The Mina Cup is being competed across four age categories U-12, U-14, U-16 and U-18 in the UAE.
Global football giants counting English heavyweights Wolverhampton Wanderers and Manchester City, Spanish club Barcelona, Austrian Sturm Graz, Mexican Pumas and India’s Reliance Foundation are among the other teams taking part.
