News Focus
- Borussia Dortmund II defeated Real Madrid Castilla 1-0 in the final to lift the Premier League International Cup trophy.
- Taycan Etcibasi scored the winning goal inside the first ten minutes and finished as the tournament’s top scorer with five goals.
- Dortmund became only the second German club to win this competition, following Bayern Munich’s triumph in the 2018/19 season.
- Real Madrid dominated possession but failed to break down Dortmund’s ultra-defensive tactics throughout the clash.
- A scuffle broke out between players from both sides during injury time as tensions rose on the pitch.
Borussia Dortmund II have won the Premier League International Cup. The German side beat Real Madrid Castilla 1-0 in the final to claim the prestigious youth trophy.
The only goal came early in the match. Goalkeeper Aaron Held started a swift attack with a quick distribution. Enzo Duarte then provided a first-time assist to Taycan Etcibasi. The 18-year-old striker finished superbly within the opening ten minutes.
Etcibasi’s strike proved decisive and secured him the golden boot. He scored five goals in six games during the competition. The teenager found the net in every match except the 2-0 group stage defeat to Manchester United. He moved to Dortmund’s academy from fierce rivals Schalke in 2024.
Real Madrid included several players from their UEFA Youth League winning squad. They controlled the game but could not find a way past Dortmund’s defence. Manager Daniel Rios organised his team in an ultra-defensive formation. This approach frustrated the Spanish side for the entire match.
The game ended with a heated moment. Players from both teams were involved in a scuffle during injury time. However, Dortmund held firm to secure the victory.
This success continues German dominance in the tournament. Bayern Munich were the inaugural German winners back in the 2018/19 campaign. A German player has also finished as top scorer for two consecutive seasons. Last term, Ensar Aksakal netted six goals for Hertha Berlin to win the individual accolade.