Manchester City kicked off their Club World Cup campaign with a comfortable 2–0 win over Morocco’s Wydad Casablanca.
Manchester City wasted no time, breaking the deadlock just three minutes in when a low cross bounced off the goalkeeper and into the path of Phil Foden, who tapped it home with ease.
Omar Marmoush, leading the line for City in place of Erling Haaland, nearly made it two with a low strike that grazed the post in the 9th minute. The Egyptian forward was active in the first half, drawing a yellow card after a rough challenge from Wydad’s Cassius Mailula.
Wydad came close to equalizing in the 21st minute, but Oussama Zemraoui failed to control a cross inside the area. City regained control and were rewarded again just before halftime. A 42nd-minute corner by Foden found Jeremy Doku, who escaped his marker to nod in the second.
In the second half, Doku missed a clear chance for a brace in the 50th minute, after capitalizing on a goalkeeper error but seeing his shot pushed wide. Marmoush made way for İlkay Gündoğan in the 68th minute.
Late in the game, City were reduced to 10 men when Rico Lewis was shown a straight red in the 88th minute for a reckless challenge on Samuel Obeng. With only a few minutes left, City held firm and nearly added a third through Haaland, but his effort was denied by Wydad’s goalkeeper.
Next up for City is a group-stage clash against Al Ain, which will feature an Egyptian showdown between Marmoush and former Al Ahly defender Rami Rabia who recently signed for the Emirati outfit.
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