Borussia Dortmund’s reserve team claimed the Premier League International Cup title after a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Real Madrid Castilla in the tournament final aimed at U23 sides. This triumph makes Dortmund the second German club to win the competition, following Bayern Munich’s success in the 2018/19 season.
The decisive moment came within the first ten minutes. Goalkeeper Aaron Held initiated the attack, and Enzo Duarte provided the assist for Taylan Etusibasi to slot home. The goal saw the 18-year-old forward finish as the tournament’s top scorer with five goals, moving ahead of RB Leipzig’s Johan N’Gachu and Manchester United’s James Scanlon.
Real Madrid Castilla featured several players from their UEFA Youth League-winning squad from the previous month and dominated possession throughout the match. However, they were unable to breach the solid defensive line organized by Daniel Ríos. Tensions boiled over during stoppage time, leading to a brief scuffle between the two sides.
Etusibasi netted five goals in six appearances during the tournament, failing to score only in the 2-0 group-stage loss to Manchester United. He transferred from Schalke to Dortmund’s youth academy in 2024. His Golden Boot win marks the second consecutive season a German player has claimed the award, following Hertha’s Nsare Aksakal, who scored six goals last season and currently plays for 2. Bundesliga side Ulm.
