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The National
3 days ago
- Sport
- The National
Manchester City ease to victory over Wydad in Club World Cup opener
Manchester City eased to a comfortable 2-0 victory over Wydad in their opening game of the Fifa Club World Cup on Wednesday. Goals from Phil Foden and Jeremy Doku at the beginning and end of the first half earned Pep Guardiola's side victory at a baking hot Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. Summer signings Tijjani Reijnders and Ryan Chekri were both handed debuts after their respective summer moves from AC Milan and Lyon, while there was also a welcome return from injury for Ballon d'Or-winning midfielder Rodri. The only downside for City was the late sending off for Rico Lewis who was shown a straight red card after catching Samuel Obeng in the face in his follow through after sliding in for a tackle. But Lewis's exit came with two minutes to go and with City in cruise control, on the way to a win that took them top of Group G, which also contains UAE side Al Ain and Italian giants Juventus who face-off in Washington DC (Thursday at 5am UAE time). 'Very happy for the team to start the tournament with a win. It was difficult at times with the heat,' said player-of-the-match Foden. 'Fair play to them, they were a top team on the counter-attacks. A lot of chances that we had to deal with. Happy with the performance and happy with the three points. 'I stayed alive, and the ball fell to me. I put it away nicely, so I am happy. A new season, fresh me. Looking forward to the season now.' City were playing their first game since a surprise FA Cup final defeat by Crystal Palace which meant they finished the season trophyless. And that came on the back of a disappointing Premier League campaign which saw them finish third, a distant 13 points behind champions Liverpool. But City began their Club World Cup defence in style as they took the lead inside two minutes of action, scoring the tournament's quickest ever goal. A surging run down the right by Savinho ended with the Brazilian winger sending over a cross that Wydad goalkeeper El Mehdi Benabid could only parry straight to the feet of Foden who finished first time into the corner. It was a welcome goal for the England international – his first in 20 matches for club and country – after a tough season where he failed to hit the heights of previous campaigns. January signing Omar Marmoush almost made it 2-0 before the 10-minute mark but the Egyptian attacker pulled his shot just wide of the target while defender Nathan Ake headed another chance just wide from a corner. But it was not all one-way traffic with the 2021/22 CAF Champions League winners making life difficult at times for City, with Thembinkosi Lorch a lively figure for WAC. The South African attacker attempted one audacious strike from inside his own half that had Ederson in the City goal back-pedalling furiously before stopping the ball just before the goalline. Lorch also set up another opportunity for countryman Cassius Mailula whose weak effort was blocked by Ederson while firing another effort wide of the target himself. Foden almost grabbed a second but saw his low effort well saved by Benabid but moments later City had doubled their lead. This time Foden was the provider as he sent a corner deep towards the back post where Doku was on hand to volley home first time for his first goal in six months just before half-time. The second half was to prove a quiet affair in the searing heat with City's best moment coming on the hour when Rodri appeared from the bench to make his first appearance since injuring his ACL in the 2-2 draw with Arsenal last September. The Spaniard looked understandably rusty at first, sending one simple pass out side out for a throw-in, but City will be delighted to get the Spaniard some minutes on the pitch. 'Of course, he will be important,' said Guardiola. 'We have to adjust many things, but step by step.' Fellow second-half substitute Erling Haaland had two chances to make it 3-0 sending one effort over the bar before seeing another saved by Benabid. There was to be late controversy, though, when Lewis was shown a straight red card when both he and Obeng slid in for a challenge only for the WAC player to take a boot in the face. 'He touches the ball. He never had any intention to do it,' insisted Guardiola. 'It is what it is.' Next up for City is Al Ain at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta which kicks-off Monday, 5am UAE time. Wydad are back in action at the Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday night when they take on Juventus at 8pm.
BBC News
10-06-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Netherlands hit eight to thrash Malta in qualifying
Aston Villa forward Donyell Malen scored twice with Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk and Tottenham defender Micky van de Ven also on target as the Netherlands crushed Malta 8-0 in a World Cup Manchester United midfielder Memphis Depay scored twice in the opening 16 minutes to move on to 50 international goals and equal Robin van Persie's record total for the Dijk scored from 20 yards in the 20th minute to make it 3-0 as it became a question of just how many the Dutch would Simons added a fourth just after the hour mark before Malen, who came on in the 72nd minute, finished off two minutes later after good work from Van de Ven to make it five. Malen set up Noa Lang for the sixth, before the Villa man grabbed his second goal and the hosts' seventh in the 80th centre-back Van de Ven sealed the rout in the second minute of injury time with his first international Dutch have now won both of their Group G matches, scoring 10 times and not conceding any, after they won 2-0 away from home against Finland on Saturday. Finland beat Poland 2-1 on Tuesday night to top the group with seven points from their four matches, although the second-placed Netherlands have two games in were without Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski after he said he would not play for his country while Michal Probierz was manager after being stripped of the captaincy at the led 2-0 with a Joel Pohjanpalo penalty and a 64th-minute goal from Benjamin Kallman, before Poland pulled one back through Arsenal defender Jakob Kiwior. The game in Helsinki was suspended for 20 minutes after a spectator needed medical attention, before the rest of the match was played out and the hosts held on for their success.
CNA
10-06-2025
- Sport
- CNA
Finland go top of qualifying group with 2-1 win over Poland
FINLAND :Goals from Joel Pohjanpalo and Benjamin Kallman earned Finland a 2-1 home win over Poland in Helsinki on Tuesday to send the hosts top of their World Cup qualifying group. The home side took a 31st-minute lead when Polish keeper Lukasz Skorupski was dispossessed by Finland forward Pohjanpalo. Skorupski then fouled Robin Lod and Pohjanpalo converted the resulting penalty. Finland doubled their advantage in the 64th minute when Oliver Antman's squared ball across the area was fired home by substitute Kallman but Jakub Kiwior bundled the ball into the net five minutes later to pull one back for Poland. A serious medical emergency in the stands led to a long suspension of play in the 80th minute but Poland were unable to find another goal and Finland, looking to qualify for their first World Cup, held on to take all three points. Poland's preparation had been overshadowed by Robert Lewandowski's decision not to play under current coach Michal Probierz after he was stripped of the captaincy, with Piotr Zielinski, currently injured, taking over. Finland are on seven points after four games in Group G, one point ahead of the Netherlands who hammered Malta 8-0, but the Dutch have two games in hand. Poland are third, also on six points with three games played.
Reuters
10-06-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Finland go top of qualifying group with 2-1 win over Poland
FINLAND, June 10 (Reuters) - Goals from Joel Pohjanpalo and Benjamin Kallman earned Finland a 2-1 home win over Poland in Helsinki on Tuesday to send the hosts top of their World Cup qualifying group. The home side took a 31st-minute lead when Polish keeper Lukasz Skorupski was dispossessed by Finland forward Pohjanpalo. Skorupski then fouled Robin Lod and Pohjanpalo converted the resulting penalty. Finland doubled their advantage in the 64th minute when Oliver Antman's squared ball across the area was fired home by substitute Kallman but Jakub Kiwior bundled the ball into the net five minutes later to pull one back for Poland. A serious medical emergency in the stands led to a long suspension of play in the 80th minute but Poland were unable to find another goal and Finland, looking to qualify for their first World Cup, held on to take all three points. Poland's preparation had been overshadowed by Robert Lewandowski's decision not to play under current coach Michal Probierz after he was stripped of the captaincy, with Piotr Zielinski, currently injured, taking over. Finland are on seven points after four games in Group G, one point ahead of the Netherlands who hammered Malta 8-0, but the Dutch have two games in hand. Poland are third, also on six points with three games played.
CNA
07-06-2025
- Sport
- CNA
Depay, Dumfries earn Netherlands 2-0 win in Finland
HELSINKI : The Netherlands kicked off their World Cup qualification campaign with a comfortable victory as goals from Memphis Depay and Denzel Dumfries secured a 2-0 away win over Finland on Saturday. Depay profited from a defensive error to give the Dutch the lead inside six minutes, and Dumfries added a second with a neat finish at the back post midway through the first half. The Netherlands moved third in Group G with three points, behind leaders Poland, who have won both their games, and Finland who have four points from three matches. The group winners advance to next year's World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada, while the second-placed side will enter a 16-team playoff competition to decide four additional places at the finals.
