Manchester City emphatically booked their place in the knockout rounds of the FIFA Club World Cup with a commanding 6-0 triumph over Al Ain. The Emirati side exits the competition having conceded a total of eleven goals in just two matches, highlighting City’s overwhelming dominance.
Manchester City asserted control from the opening whistle, taking only eight minutes to break the deadlock. Ilkay Gundogan displayed superb class and composure inside the box, gathering a loose ball. While it may have initially appeared to be a delicate cross, his effort expertly looped high over Al Ain goalkeeper Khalid Eisa and nestled into the net for the opener.
The flow of the game wasn’t entirely one-sided in the early stages, as Al Zaeem attempted to mount a response. They nearly found it when Nassim Chadli raced clear, but his goal-bound effort was brilliantly tipped wide by Stefan Ortega.
However, the respite for Al Ain proved temporary. A second goal arrived just before the half-hour mark courtesy of Claudio Echeverri. Despite potential questions about the defensive wall’s solidity, Echeverri’s expertly curled free-kick marked his first goal for the club, extending City’s lead to 2-0.
Matters worsened significantly for Al Ain just before the break. A VAR review confirmed that Ramy Rabia had dragged Manuel Akanji to the floor inside the box, resulting in a penalty. Erling Haaland calmly stepped up and casually tucked the resultant spot-kick home, putting City firmly in control at 3-0.
Al Ain manager Vladimir Ivic made a double change at halftime in an attempt to turn the tide, but it proved ineffective as City continued their relentless pursuit of more goals. Haaland was denied a second goal by a fantastic double save from Eisa, yet the fourth goal inevitably arrived in the 73rd minute. Gundogan once again showcased his quality with a fantastic first touch to create space in the box, and this time, there was no doubting his intentions as he casually lifted the ball over Eisa for his brace.
There was still time for more additions to the scoreline. Oscar Bobb tucked the ball home at the near post before Rayan Cherki notched his first goal for City to round off the scoring, completing the 6-0 rout.
The commanding victory sets up a highly anticipated showdown between Manchester City and Juventus in the final group stage match. Both teams boast a 100% record in the tournament, with the winner securing top spot in the group. Meanwhile, Al Ain’s elimination is confirmed, and they will face Wydad in a dead rubber fixture next.
