Sports
Club World Cup Sunday Round Up: City and Juve Cruise Through as Madrid Digs Deep With 10 Men
Heavy Hitters Rise, Heartbreak for Hopefuls as Club World Cup Heats Up in the US
The FIFA Club World Cup is hitting its stride stateside, and this weekend saw a clear separation between contenders and passengers. Manchester City, Juventus and Real Madrid all flexed their muscle — in very different ways — to edge closer to glory, while familiar faces like Wydad Casablanca, Pachuca and Al Ain packed their bags.
Let’s unpack what went down across the pond.
Juventus Light it Up in Philly
Juve’s Number 10 Gets the Job Done, Source: X
Juventus booked their place in the knockout rounds with a statement 4-1 win over Morocco’s Wydad Casablanca in Philadelphia. And while 20-year-old Turkish sensation Kenan Yildiz stole the spotlight with a brace, there was a flicker of South African interest too — Thembinkosi Lorch got on the scoresheet with a composed finish, reminding fans back home why he’s still a class act.
An early own goal from Abdelmounaim Boutouil set the tone for Wydad’s woes, and Yildiz made it two with a rocket from range. Lorch’s response came courtesy of a lovely pass from veteran Nordin Amrabat, but Yildiz danced through the defence again to make it 3-1. Dusan Vlahovic added a late penalty to seal it.
Post-match, Juve boss Igor Tudor admitted the early kick-off had them adjusting their tempo, but praised his players for staying sharp. “Tonight they’ll have an evening off and a dinner out. They’ve earned it,” he added. Next up: a massive clash with Manchester City.
Real Madrid Grit it Out With 10 Men and Still Dominate
Arda Guler Adds Insult to Injury to Pachua, Source: X
Over in Charlotte, Real Madrid proved that even a man down, they’re still a cut above. After Raul Asencio was sent off just seven minutes in, most teams would crumble. Not Madrid.
Jude Bellingham opened the scoring with a solo effort that showcased his power and poise, while Arda Guler and Federico Valverde added two more. Pachuca, to their credit, pulled one back via Elias Montiel’s deflected strike, but the game was long gone by then.
Madrid manager Xabi Alonso was proud of the resilience. “We had to suffer and defend deep, but we were smart about when to attack. The team showed humility and grit,” he said.
Their win puts them top of Group H and all but guarantees their place in the next stage — with the type of confidence South Africans might compare to Sundowns showing up in a CAF Champions League final.
City Go Full Throttle, Al Ain Swept Aside
Ilkay Gundogan Finds the Net Twice for City
Atlanta saw a football masterclass as Manchester City dismantled Al Ain 6-0. Ilkay Gundogan netted twice, with Claudio Echeverri, Oscar Bobb, Rayan Cherki and Erling Haaland (from the spot) all getting in on the act.
Al Ain barely laid a glove on the English champions, with just 26% possession and a single shot on target.
Pep Guardiola was all smiles afterward. “The guys that played today took their opportunity. We’re lucky to have this depth,” he said.
For City fans, it was just another example of the Premier League giants doing what they do best — suffocating the opposition and sharing the goals around.
Stalemate in Washington, But Drama Still Brewing in Group H
While others celebrated, things stayed cagey between RB Salzburg and Al Hilal at Audi Field in Washington D.C. A goalless draw may not light up headlines, but it left Salzburg second in Group H, just ahead of Al Hilal.
Morocco’s Yassine Bounou was the hero in goal for the Saudi side, pulling off six saves to keep the Austrians at bay. Despite having more possession, Hilal couldn’t convert their chances, and the group remains wide open behind leaders Real Madrid.
Looking Ahead
With only a few group-stage matches left, the race for the knockout stages is getting tighter. City and Juventus are already through, while Madrid and Salzburg are close. Wydad, Al Ain, Pachuca and others are heading home — and South African fans watching from Joburg will no doubt be keeping an eye on Lorch, whose name is trending locally despite the loss.
Whether you’re team Galácticos or backing the underdogs, the Club World Cup is delivering drama, goals and a hint of unpredictability — just the way we like it.
Source: Xinhua
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