Juventus push Wydad to the brink of elimination

by Graeme Jackson

Sunday Jun 22, 2025. 20:02

Juventus outclassed Wydad Casablanca 4-1 in a FIFA Club World Cup Group G match played at the Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on Sunday evening.

The Bianconeri’s win has pushed the Moroccan side to the brink of elimination – if Manchester City avoid defeat in their match against Al Ain in the early hours of Monday morning, then the Red Castle will have no mathematical chance of progression to the knockout phase of the competition.

Juventus powered into a 2-0 lead within the first 16 minutes of the match, with Kenan Yildiz involved in both goals.

The Turkish attacker exchanged passes with Khephren Thuram in the sixth minute before his low shot from the left of the penalty area was deflected into the back of the net by Wydad defender Abdelmounaim Boutouil – who was then credited with an own goal.

Ten minutes later Andrea Cambiaso went on a powerful run, cutting inside from the left, and a resulting loose ball fell perfectly for Yildiz on the edge of the box – the 20-year-old struck a beautiful half-volley into the top corner of the net for 2-0.

The Red Castle looked to be down and out – with even a few verbal exchanges between players and the bench – but they pulled a goal back in fine style in the 25th minute.

Nordin Amrabat played a superbly-weighed diagonal pass to pick out the run of Thembinkosi Lorch, and the South African forward provided a composed chipped finish beyond goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio to make it 2-1.

However, that was as good as it got for the Moroccan side, with Juventus re-asserting their dominance in the second half and adding to their advantage in the 69th minute.

Ranadal Kolo Muani played a smart reverse pass to put Yildiz in on goal, and the attacker cut inside a defender before coolly slotting the ball home for 3-1 and his second strike of the match.

The Italian heavyweights added a fourth goal in injury time, with substitute Dusan Vlahovic both earning and converting a penalty to complete the score line at 4-1.

Wydad will finish off their Group G campaign with a match against Al Ain in Washington DC on the evening of Thursday 26 June.

Juventus (2) 4 (Boutouil og 6’, Yildiz 16’, 69’, Vlahovic 90+4’ pen)

Wydad (1) 1 (Lorch 25’)

Juventus: Di Gregorio, Kalulu, Savona, Kelly, Costa (Gonzalez 72’), McKennie (Koopmeiners 46’), Thuram, Cambiaso, Conceicao (Locatelli 72’), Yildiz (Gatti 85’), Kolo Muani (Vlahovic 72’)

Wydad: Benabid, Ferreira, Boutouli (Harkass 78’), Meijers (Mwalimu 46’), Moufi (Aziz 87’), Zemraoui (Mailula 78’), Moubarik, Moufid, Amrabat, Lorch, Obeng (Somah 46’)