Manchester City kicked off their Club World Cup campaign with a convincing 2-0 victory over Wydad Casablanca, with goals from Phil Foden and Jeremy Doku securing the win. The match, played at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, saw City dominate from the start, with Foden finding the back of the net in just the second minute.
Manager Pep Guardiola opted for an experimental line-up, giving debuts to new signings Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki. Despite the unfamiliar starting XI, City controlled the game and created plenty of chances throughout.
Foden, who had been sparingly used towards the end of the Premier League season, showed his class by scoring the opening goal early on. Cherki, playing in a central role alongside Foden, also impressed on his debut, providing the assist for Doku’s goal just before half-time.
Wydad, who finished third in the Moroccan league and qualified for the tournament as CAF Champions League winners, struggled to cope with City’s attacking prowess. Despite a few opportunities to score, they were unable to break through City’s defense.
The second half saw Guardiola make several substitutions, with Rodri and Erling Haaland coming on for Cherki, Doku, and Foden. However, City suffered a setback late in the game when Rico Lewis was shown a straight red card for a dangerous tackle on Wydad’s Samuel Obeng.
Overall, Guardiola will be pleased with his team’s performance and the result, as they look to put behind a disappointing season domestically and in the Champions League. City will now face Al Ain in their next match, before taking on Juventus in the final group game. The win against Wydad sets a positive tone for City’s Club World Cup campaign, as they aim to add another trophy to their collection.
