Manchester City made a statement in their Club World Cup debut, brushing aside Wydad Casablanca 2-0 in Philadelphia with a dominant first-half display despite resting several stars.
Even under the sweltering midday heat at Lincoln Financial Field, Pep Guardiola’s much-changed City side barely broke a sweat in securing all three points. Phil Foden needed just 95 seconds to break the deadlock, reacting sharply to Mehdi Benabid’s parry and guiding a crisp finish into the net.
Guardiola, without Haaland, Rodri, Bernardo Silva, and Dias, handed starts to summer arrivals Rayan Cherki and Tijjani Reijnders. Yet City’s fluidity and control remained unmistakable. By the 42nd minute, Jérémy Doku volleyed home a clever Foden corner to double the advantage.
Wydad, spirited and dangerous on the counter, had their moments. Cassius Mailula nearly caught Ederson off his line with a bold lob, while Mohamed Moufid’s cross narrowly missed Thembinkosi Lorch’s sliding effort in a promising early exchange. But City’s defensive structure, marshalled by Nathan Aké and Rico Lewis, stood firm.
Cherki nearly added a third just after the break, testing Benabid from the edge of the box. The Moroccan goalkeeper produced another stellar stop to deny Haaland later, having come off the bench in the second half to a roar from the Philadelphia crowd.
The tempo faded under the heat, but the match was briefly interrupted by an animal-rights activist invading the pitch to protest Morocco’s treatment of stray animals. Security quickly removed the intruder, adding a surreal moment to an otherwise clinical City display.
Lewis was dismissed in the dying minutes for a studs-up challenge, but it did little to blemish a comfortable opening win. With three points secured, City now prepare for their next test against UAE side Al Ain. Wydad, meanwhile, will regroup ahead of a daunting clash with Juventus.
