Ilkay Gundogan (2), Claudio Echeverri, Erling Haaland, Oscar Bobb and Rayan Cherki all opened their FIFA Club World Cup 2025 accounts as hopes of knockout-stage football were extinguished for both their outplayed Emirati opponents and City\u2019s opening-game victims, Wydad AC.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Pep Guardiola\u2019s side weren\u2019t always at their sparkling best, but the outcome was never really in doubt from the moment Gundogan gave them an eighth-minute lead. Only the German will know for sure whether the goal was a perfectly judged chip, an attempted cross or, quite possibly, a little of both.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Either way, it settled City nerves and was followed by a goal of unquestionable brilliance. Echeverri became the second Argentinian at this tournament, after Lionel Messi, to score direct from a free-kick, and his superb curling effort was every bit as impressive as at his famous countryman's.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
It was a spectacular way for the teenager to notch his first City goal, and he was soon joined on the scoresheet by the club\u2019s most prolific player.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Erling Haaland had gone a close a couple of times and, when Rami Rabia was penalised for a foul on Nathan Ake in first-half stoppage time, he seized his chance, sending the keeper the wrong way with a coolly dispatched penalty.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Guardiola\u2019s side continued to dominate in a one-sided second half, and saw their advantage extended by Gundogan\u2019s second \u2013 lofted home after a clever reverse pass from Bernardo Silva \u2013 and a smart finish from substitute Oscar Bobb.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Further gloss was added to the scoreline with a minute remaining when Haaland teed up Cherki to rifle home his first goal since joining the club from Lyon.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Guardiola\u2019s side continued to dominate in a one-sided second half, and saw their advantage extended by Gundogan\u2019s second \u2013 lofted home after a clever reverse pass from Bernardo Silva \u2013 and a smart finish from substitute Oscar Bobb.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
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