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Manchester City delivered a dominant performance to defeat Juventus 5-2 in their final Group G match of the Club World Cup on Thursday in Orlando. The win secured City the top spot in their group and a perfect 3-0 record in the tournament’s group stage.
Winger Jeremy Doku was the standout performer, causing constant trouble for the Juventus defense. Speaking after the match, Doku said, “We played well. I’m happy with the victory. Now we’re just curious to see who we’re going to play against.”
City later found out they will face Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal in the Round of 16. That match will also take place in Orlando on Monday. Meanwhile, Juventus, finishing second in the group, will head to Miami Gardens, Florida, to face Real Madrid.
City Takes Early Control
Manchester City got off to a strong start when Jeremy Doku opened the scoring in the 9th minute. He cut inside and calmly placed the ball into the top right corner. However, Juventus quickly responded just two minutes later when Teun Koopmeiners scored to level the match at 1-1.
City regained the lead in the 26th minute through an own goal. Juventus defender Pierre Kalulu misjudged a cross from City’s Savinho, accidentally sending the ball past his own goalkeeper.
After going into halftime with a 2-1 lead, Manchester City came out even stronger in the second half.
Haaland Hits Career Milestone
Just seven minutes after entering the game, City’s star striker Erling Haaland scored in the 52nd minute. He finished off a smooth assist from Matheus Nunes with a quick touch that rolled into the open net. The goal was a special one for Haaland—it marked the 300th of his professional career across club and country at only 24 years old.
Phil Foden came off the bench in the 66th minute and made an immediate impact. Just three minutes later, he scored Manchester City’s fourth goal with a simple tap-in.
In the 75th minute, Haaland attempted a header that bounced off the crossbar. Savinho was quick to react, smashing in the rebound to make it 5-1.
Juventus managed a late goal in the 84th minute when Dusan Vlahovic scored on a fast break. It was his second consecutive match with a goal, but by then the result was already clear.
City Dominates the Group
Both teams entered the match with two wins each, but City’s commanding victory secured them first place in Group G with 9 points. They also ended the group stage with the most goals in the tournament—13 in total.
The victory was Manchester City’s first over Juventus since 1976, making the win even more meaningful. It also highlighted their attacking depth and strong teamwork, with five different players either scoring or assisting.
Juventus, finishing second in the group with 6 points, will now prepare to face Real Madrid, who topped Group H after a strong win over RB Salzburg.
What’s Next
Manchester City will stay in Orlando to take on Al Hilal on Monday, while Juventus travels to Florida to play against Real Madrid on Tuesday. Both matches are expected to be intense as the knockout rounds begin.
With their performance against Juventus, City has made it clear they are one of the top contenders for the Club World Cup title this year.