Football

Chennaiyin FC Under-12 Stun Borussia Dortmund 4-2 at Norwich City Mina Cup UK

Chennaiyin FC’s under-12 team pulled off a remarkable 4-2 victory over German giants Borussia Dortmund at the prestigious Norwich City Mina Cup UK, highlighting the growing promise of Indian football on the global stage. 

The two-day tournament, held at Norwich City FC’s top-notch training facility in England, saw the young Marina Machans deliver an inspiring performance, with Manipur-born forward Nepolian Laikhuram at the heart of their success.

Facing Borussia Dortmund, known for their elite academy that has produced stars like Christian Pulisic and Mario Götze, Chennaiyin FC’s young guns showed no fear. Nepolian Laikhuram, the star of the match, netted all four goals for Chennaiyin in a stunning individual display. His performance was not only key to the victory but also showed the attacking talent emerging from India’s youth football ranks.

Nepolian’s heroics continued throughout the tournament as he finished with six goals, including a brace in Chennaiyin’s 2-0 victory over Bermuda FA. Other notable contributions came from Rohit Tenshubam and Hitaansh Dipesh, who added to Chennaiyin’s goal tally across the event.

Reflecting on the team’s success, Chennaiyin FC Vice President Ekansh Gupta praised the young players’ resilience and grit, particularly after tough losses to European powerhouses Inter Milan (0-1) and Liverpool (0-2) during the group stages. 

“We are thrilled with the grit and determination of our young stars at the Norwich City Mina Cup UK,” Gupta said. “There were losses, but they took them well, and then a win against Borussia Dortmund on day two! It truly highlighted the potential of Indian football on an international stage.”

Chennaiyin’s participation in the tournament, the only club from India to compete, culminated in qualification for the Silver Cup. After narrowly losing to Inter and Liverpool, the team bounced back to beat Bermuda FA twice—once in the group stage and again in the placement matches—before their memorable win against Dortmund.

The under-12 squad returned home having gained invaluable international experience, competing against top European academies and demonstrating the progress of Indian football at the youth level.

About the Author


Written by DafaNews

DafaNews brings you the most highlighted news in the world of Sports. It serves you up-to-date matches, scores, live streams, fantasy games and quizzes. Our news covers India's prestigious leagues and events – Premier League, Pro Kabbadi League, Cricket World Cup and many more. Follow DafaNews on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter,Telegram and Youtube for more updates.

Related Post
Share
Published by
DafaNews

Recent Posts

Novak Djokovic opens up on his run in 2025, sheds light on matches against Alcaraz and Sinner

Novak Djokovic admitted he has had a decent run in 2025 after qualifying for all… Read More

October 2, 2025

Jannik Sinner says he is not the only one who is changing on the tour ahead of Shanghai Masters

World No.2 Jannik Sinner had admitted he needed to change his game style after he… Read More

October 2, 2025

U Mumba Crush Tamil Thalaivas 42-24 to Rise to Fifth in PKL 12

U Mumba produced a dominant all-round performance to outclass Tamil Thalaivas 42-24 in Match 58… Read More

October 2, 2025

Ravindra Jadeja Surprised but Honoured by Test Vice-Captaincy Role Against West Indies

Ravindra Jadeja has admitted that his appointment as India’s vice-captain for the ongoing two-Test series… Read More

October 2, 2025

FC Goa Fall to Istiklol as Winless Start in AFC Champions League Two Continues

FC Goa’s struggles in the AFC Champions League Two continued on Wednesday as they fell… Read More

October 2, 2025

AB de Villiers urges West Indies batters to make runs against India to compete in Test series

Former South African captain AB de Villiers has urged the West Indies batters to make… Read More

October 2, 2025