Dooku Dazzles, Lewis Sees Red: Man City’s 2-0 Rout of Wydad AC!
Philadelphia, June 18, 2025 – Manchester City launched their FIFA Club World Cup 2025 campaign with a commanding 2-0 victory over Moroccan giants Wydad AC at Lincoln Financial Field, but the triumph was bittersweet. Jeremy Doku’s electrifying performance and Phil Foden’s record-breaking goal lit up the sweltering Philadelphia afternoon, only for a controversial late red card to Rico Lewis to cast a shadow over an otherwise polished display.
A Lightning Start Sets the Tone
From the opening whistle, Pep Guardiola’s side signaled their intent to dominate Group G. Barely two minutes into the match, City carved through Wydad’s defense with surgical precision. Nathan Aké’s probing pass found Doku on the left flank, who linked up with Savinho in a swift one-two. When Savinho’s shot was parried by Wydad goalkeeper Mehdi Benabid, Phil Foden pounced on the loose ball, slotting it home with his left foot at 1:51—the fastest goal in Club World Cup history. The 37,446 fans, filling just over half of the 67,594-capacity stadium, erupted as City seized early control.
Foden’s strike wasn’t just a statistical milestone; it marked a personal renaissance for the 25-year-old Englishman, who had endured a goal drought stretching 20 matches for club and country. His composure in the box hinted at a return to the form that once made him a cornerstone of City’s treble-winning campaign in 2022-23.
Doku’s Dance and City’s Dominance
While Foden stole the early headlines, Jeremy Doku emerged as the match’s true maestro. The Belgian winger was a constant thorn in Wydad’s side, his quick feet and fearless dribbling overwhelming the Moroccan defense. In the 42nd minute, Doku capped his dazzling display with a goal of his own. Foden’s inswinging corner found the unmarked winger at the far post, where he stretched to nudge the ball past Benabid, doubling City’s lead just before halftime. It was Doku’s first goal since January, a timely reminder of his potential to ignite Guardiola’s attack.
City’s first-half dominance wasn’t without its challenges. Wydad, 22-time Moroccan champions, showed flashes of resilience. Cassius Mailula nearly equalized in the 15th minute with an audacious lob from midfield that sailed just wide, while Thembinkosi Lorch squandered a golden chance after a low cross from Mohamed Moufid. City goalkeeper Ederson, captaining the side in the absence of several regulars, remained alert, smothering Mailula’s follow-up shot in the 30th minute after a misplaced pass from Vitor Reis.
Guardiola’s decision to rest key players like Erling Haaland, Rodri, Rúben Dias, and Bernardo Silva paid dividends, allowing summer signings Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki to shine on their debuts. Reijnders, in particular, orchestrated play from midfield with 68 of 74 passes completed, slipping incisive balls to the forward line and proving a worthy successor to the departed Kevin De Bruyne. Cherki, meanwhile, showcased his flair, nearly setting up a third goal with a mazy run down the right.
A Quieter Second Half and a Pitch Invasion
The second half saw City shift into cruise control, prioritizing possession over penetration. The humid Philadelphia conditions, coupled with Guardiola’s focus on managing player fitness for upcoming clashes against Al Ain and Juventus, contributed to a subdued tempo. Wydad, buoyed by their vocal supporters wielding drums and red flares, pressed higher but struggled to create clear chances. Samuel Obeng, introduced as a substitute, added a focal point to their attack, but City’s makeshift backline—anchored by Nathan Aké and 19-year-old Vitor Reis—held firm.
A brief interruption came in the first half when an animal rights activist invaded the pitch, protesting Morocco’s treatment of stray dogs and cats. Security swiftly escorted the protester out, but the incident underscored the global stage of the revamped 32-team tournament.
Lewis’s Red Card Sparks Controversy
As the match neared its conclusion, a moment of controversy stole the spotlight. In the 88th minute, Rico Lewis slid in to clear a loose ball, beating Wydad’s Samuel Obeng to the challenge. However, Lewis’s follow-through caught Obeng in the face, prompting referee Ramon Abatti Abel to brandish a straight red card. A VAR review upheld the decision, leaving City to finish the game with 10 men and Lewis facing a one-match ban for the upcoming clash with Al Ain.
The call divided opinions. Guardiola, visibly furious, argued post-match that Lewis had no intent to harm, noting that the young defender’s feet remained on the grass and he won the ball cleanly. “For Newton’s theory, your leg has to be a little higher when you slide at speed,” Guardiola quipped, defending his player. Former Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel, however, called it a “definite red card” on commentary, citing the dangerous contact. Fans on social media remained split, with some decrying the harshness of the decision and others pointing to the reckless follow-through.
Substitutions and Rodri’s Return
Guardiola used the match to reintegrate key players and test his squad’s depth. A triple substitution in the 60th minute saw Rodrik, Harland, and Oscar Bobb replace Foden, Dooku, and Cheri, with the crowd roaring for Rhodri’s return—his second appearance since a serious knee injury in September 2024. The Balloon d’Or winner showed signs of rust, misplacing a pass that drew jeers from Wydad fans, but his presence bolstered City’s midfield. Harland, meanwhile, spurned two late chances, firing over the bar and forcing a smart save from Bena bid in stoppage time.
Elkay Gundogan and Matheus Nunes also saw minutes, with Nunes slotting in at right-back to cover for Lewis’s dismissal. Wydad, too, made changes, with Mickael Malisa and Stephane Aziz Ki injecting energy, but they couldn’t breach Everson’s goal.
Looking Ahead
The victory puts City atop Group G, setting the stage for their next challenge against Al Ain in Atlanta on June 22. Lewis’s suspension poses a headache for Guardiola, who may turn to Manuel Akanji or Josko Gvardiol to fill the right-back role. For Wydad, the defeat highlights the gulf in class but offers encouragement; their counter-attacking threat and physicality could trouble Juventus in their next match on June 22 in Philadelphia.
Post-match, Guardiola struck a pragmatic tone. “The first game in a group stage is always tricky,” he told DAZN. “We did well in moments, but we’ll be better next time. Rico has no intention to do that—it is what it is.” On Foden, he was effusive: “He’s always there. Really good.”
For City, the match was a statement of intent in a tournament they’re favored to dominate, per Opta’s supercomputer, which gives them a 97.2% chance of reaching the knockout stages. For Doku, it was a showcase of his untapped potential. And for Lewis, it was a harsh lesson in the fine margins of elite football. As the Club World Cup unfolds, City’s blend of youth, experience, and flair promises more fireworks—red cards or not.
Last Updated on: Thursday, June 19, 2025 1:39 pm by Sai Karthik Munnuru | Published by: Sai Karthik Munnuru on Thursday, June 19, 2025 1:39 pm | News Categories: Trending
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