Thembinkosi Lorch and Cassius Mailula showed flashes of brilliance in their FIFA Club World Cup opening match but it was not enough as Wydad Athletic Club suffered defeat.
Wyad took on Premier League champions Manchester City in their opening match of the revamped tournament at the Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia but lost 2-0 although they left the match with their heads held high.
City made a statement of intent very early on when Phil Foden opened the scoring after just two minutes after he scored from a rebound after Wydad goalkeeper El Mehdi Benabid had parried away Savinho’s effort.
Nordin Amrabat then had a crack at the City goal from inside the box, but his effort was blocked in the 11th minute.
Lorch shows his class against Man City
Four minutes later, Lorch nearly pulled off the spectacular when he made an audacious attempt from the halfway line after spotting Ederson off his line before the City goalkeeper recovered just in time to catch the ball.
Soon after Mailula had a moment of worry when he made a rash challenge on Omar Marmoush but escaped with a yellow card.
Wydad had a great opportunity in the 34th minute when Sofyan Amrabat broke free but failed to find the target and then laid the ball to a free Mailula but the former Mamelodi Sundowns star had his tame effort saved.
That wastefulness would soon be penalized when Foden delivered a teasing cross from a corner and the ball fell into the space where Jeremy Doku was lurking and the Belgian winger scored from close range three minutes to the break.
City reduced to 10 men in dour second half
However, there was still time left for Lorch to make an attempt as he found some little space and unleashed a shot that went just wide in the 44th minute.
After the break, City reduced the tempo, opting to control possession but there was no way for Wydad.
Their best opportunity fell to substitute Erling Haaland who fired a ferocious shot over the bar in the final 12 minutes while Lorch would break free on the right wing and attempted from wide but his effort went out for a corner.
City ended the match with 10 men when Rico Lewis received a straight red card for a high boot on Samuel Obeng. Both players went for the ball and missed but Lewis’ boot ended up in the jaws of Obeng in horrific fashion.
Victory leaves City top of Group A with three points with Juventus and Al Ain yet to play while Wydad will hope to improve in their next match against the Italian giants on Sunday June 22.
