Manchester City kicked off their FIFA Club World Cup campaign with a professional 2-0 victory over Moroccan giants Wydad Casablanca on Wednesday.
While the scoreline suggested a comfortable win for the Premier League giants, the match also saw a standout performance from South African international Thembinkosi Lorch, who earned high praise for his efforts against the reigning European champions.
The highly anticipated Group G opener of the FIFA Club World Cup saw two-time African champions Wydad Casablanca put in a spirited display.
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Despite their determined pressing and tenacious efforts, Manchester City’s superior quality and clinical edge ultimately shone through against a Wydad side that, while giving their all, couldn’t match City’s firepower. The outcome wasn’t entirely a shock, as City were widely expected to dominate, but Wydad can take pride in maintaining their dignity against one of the world’s elite clubs.
Lorch’s Impressive Performance Against City’s Stars
The match was particularly noteworthy for South African football fans, as both Thembinkosi Lorch and Cassius Mailula were named in Wydad’s starting eleven. On the Manchester City side, new signings Rayan Cherki and Tijjani Reijnders were handed their debuts, while 18-year-old defender Vitor Reis made only his third start since joining the club in January.
Despite being on the losing side, Thembinkosi Lorch’s performance drew significant attention. Popular sports data website Sofascore rated Lorch as the second-best player on the pitch, surpassed only by Manchester City’s star forward Phil Foden. This recognition underscores Lorch’s impactful display against a formidable opponent.
Lorch, who arrived in Casablanca on loan, admitted that he “almost had to start from scratch” when he joined Wydad, making his strong showing against City even more commendable. It remains to be seen whether his loan spell will be extended beyond July 30th.
Match Highlights and City’s Clinical Edge
Manchester City established their dominance early, with Phil Foden capitalizing on a defensive lapse to open the scoring inside two minutes. Just before halftime, Jérémy Doku doubled City’s lead, heading home from a Foden corner in the 42nd minute to seal the result in a contest largely controlled by Pep Guardiola’s side.
While City enjoyed the lion’s share of possession and chances, the game wasn’t without its moments of drama. Towards the end of the match, City right-back Rico Lewis was shown a straight red card for a dangerous high challenge on Wydad substitute Samuel Obeng. This dismissal means Lewis will miss City’s next group stage match.
Guardiola’s Rotated Squad and Upcoming Fixtures
The victory was a welcome boost for Pep Guardiola’s squad, who are looking to finish the calendar year on a high note after what has been described as a frustrating domestic and European campaign.
Guardiola opted for a rotated and experimental starting XI in City’s opener, giving crucial minutes to new arrivals Reijnders and Cherki. Despite the relative inexperience in parts of the lineup, City settled quickly after Foden’s early goal.
Wydad, as recent winners of the CAF Champions League, did show glimpses of their attacking prowess. Thembinkosi Lorch nearly caught City goalkeeper Ederson off his line with a speculative long-range effort, and Cassius Mailula missed a clear opportunity after being set up by Lorch following a rare defensive miscue from Reis.
With the match largely decided in the second half, Guardiola made several rotations, withdrawing Foden, Doku, and Cherki around the hour mark and bringing on senior figures like Rodri and Erling Haaland to manage the closing stages.
Manchester City will now turn their attention to Sunday’s clash with UAE outfit Al Ain in Atlanta, with a win likely to secure their progression to the knockout rounds. They will then close out Group G against Italian giants Juventus.
While they couldn’t quite break through City’s defensive wall, Wydad’s spirited performance suggested that the gap between Morocco’s best and England’s elite might not be as vast as some assume.
They leave the tournament with a loss, but also with pride and the strong feeling that their football belongs on the global stage.