Manchester City Dominates Juventus 5-2 to Top Group G at Club World Cup
Manchester City delivered a spectacular performance on Thursday, crushing Juventus 5-2 at the FIFA Club World Cup to secure the top spot in Group G. The match, held at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, showcased City’s offensive prowess and marked a significant milestone for striker Erling Haaland.
City took the lead early with Jeremy Doku netting a goal in the 9th minute. However, Juventus quickly responded with Teun Koopmeiners equalizing just two minutes later. The pivotal moment came in the 26th minute when Juventus defender Pierre Kalulu accidentally turned the ball into his own net, putting City ahead 2-1.
In the second half, Manchester City unleashed a relentless attack. Erling Haaland scored his 300th goal for the club, followed by strikes from Phil Foden and Savinho, extending the lead to 5-1. Haaland’s remarkable achievement at such a young age underscores his status as one of football’s brightest talents.
Midfielder Rodri, last year’s Ballon d’Or winner, made a triumphant return to the starting lineup after recovering from knee ligament surgery in September. He played until the 66th minute, providing stability in the midfield before being substituted.
Juventus managed to pull one back in the 84th minute with a goal from Dusan Vlahovic, but it was too late to mount a comeback. The Italian side finished second in the group and will face the Group H winners on July 1 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.
Manchester City advances to the knockout stage and will take on the Group H runners-up on June 30 in Orlando. Their commanding performance cements their status as favorites in the tournament.
Al Ain Edges Wydad Casablanca 2-1 in Final Group Match
In another Group G match, Al Ain secured a 2-1 win over Wydad Casablanca on Thursday in Washington. Paraguayan international Kaku scored the decisive goal early in the second half.
Despite both teams being out of contention for the knockout stages, they delivered an entertaining encounter. Wydad took an early lead in the 4th minute when Cassius Mailula, on loan from Major League Soccer side Toronto, found the net unchallenged.
Al Ain equalized just before halftime through a penalty converted by Kodjo Laba. The Togolese forward, who was the UAE Pro League’s top scorer last season, confidently slotted the ball home after a video review confirmed the foul.
Kaku’s goal in the 50th minute sealed the victory for Al Ain. The match was marked by an unfortunate injury to Wydad’s center-back Jamal Harkass, who was taken off on a stretcher following the goal.
Wydad coach Mohamed Amine Benhachem managed the sidelines on crutches after being involved in a traffic accident earlier in the week. Fortunately, no one was seriously injured in the incident.
While both teams exit the tournament, they leave with valuable experience and moments of brilliance that will inspire their domestic campaigns.
