Phil Foden opened the scoring early as Manchester City began their FIFA Club World Cup journey with a solid 2-0 win over Wydad Casablanca on Wednesday.
The match, held at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, saw City take control from the beginning and maintain their lead through the final whistle.
Just two minutes into the game, Foden was quick to find the net. After a cross from Savinho was poorly handled by Wydad goalkeeper El Mehdi Benabid, the ball fell kindly to Foden who made no mistake from close range.
Manchester City fielded a somewhat new-look side, with manager Pep Guardiola opting to give opportunities to fresh faces.
New signings Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki made their first appearances, and 18-year-old defender Vitor Reis earned a rare start.
Guardiola noted that the Club World Cup is a chance to reset after a season that fell short of expectations both in the Premier League and Champions League.
Wydad Casablanca, despite being backed by a loud section of fans, struggled to keep up with the pace and structure of the reigning English champions.
Their squad, featuring recent additions from lesser-known leagues and 38-year-old Moroccan veteran Nordin Amrabat, faced a tough test.
Cherki, playing in an advanced midfield position close to Foden, looked lively but had a few nervy moments.
One such moment came when he lost the ball, giving Thembinkosi Lorch the chance to test City keeper Ederson with a shot from long range. Ederson stayed alert and dealt with the danger.
Wydad had another big opportunity after a defensive slip from Reis, but South African forward Cassius Mailula couldn’t convert the chance. Those misses proved costly.
City doubled their lead just before halftime. In the 42nd minute, Foden’s well-placed corner from the right met Jeremy Doku, who headed the ball into the net with confidence. Doku could have added another goal soon after, but failed to beat the goalkeeper when through on goal.
