Face2News/Chandigarh
India’s Minerva Academy kicked off their Helsinki Cup 2026 campaign in jaw-dropping fashion on Day 1, securing two massive, high-scoring victories to state their intentions loud and clear. Showcasing ruthless attacking football and exceptional clinical finishing, the Indian side scored a staggering 15 goals across just two matches while conceding only twice.
Match 1: Minerva Academy Blazes Past FC Valtti 6-1
In their opening fixture of the tournament, Minerva Academy delivered a tactical and physical masterclass, defeating Finnish side FC Valtti 6-1.
Minerva broke the deadlock early in the 10th minute through a strike from Wangshem, followed closely by a clinical finish from Haokip in the 15th minute, allowing the Indian side to take a composed 2-0 cushion into halftime. Valtti pulled one back in the second half, but Minerva responded aggressively to shut down any hopes of a comeback. Wangshem secured his brace in the 25th minute, followed by a rapid-fire barrage of goals from Seiminsang (28′), Rimoson (30′), and T. Kipgen (33′) to close out a flawless opening game.
Match 2: MINERVA ACADEMY DEMOLISHES HELSINGIN PALLOSEURA 9-1
Carrying immense momentum into their second game of the day, Minerva Academy put on an absolute attacking clinic against HPS, cruising to a thumping 9-1 victory.
The team asserted their dominance early, heading into halftime with a comfortable 3-1 lead thanks to a quickfire brace from T. Kipgen (9′, 13′) and a strike from Rimoson (17′). The second half turned into a complete goal-fest as Minerva completely overwhelmed the opposition defense. Rimoson went on an absolute rampage, adding three more goals to his register (23′, 25′, 32′) to finish with a spectacular four-goal haul in the match. T. Kipgen completed his hat-trick in the 40th minute, while Wangshem (21′) and Haokip (30′) also found the back of the net to seal the 9-1 rout.
