Juventus destroy Wydad: Rampant Italians cruise into Club World Cup knockout stage

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

Juventus delivered a commanding performance to defeat Wydad Athletic 4–1 in their Round 2 clash at the FIFA Club World Cup, sealing a place in the knockout stage in emphatic fashion.

The match opened with misfortune for Wydad as defender Abdelmounaim Boutouil inadvertently turned the ball into his own net in the 6th minute, gifting Juventus an early lead.

Things went from bad to worse for the Moroccan side when Kenan Yildiz doubled the lead in the 16th minute with a stunning long-range strike that left goalkeeper El Mehdi Benabid rooted to the spot.

Wydad, however, showed resilience. A sharp counterattack in the 25th minute saw Nordin Amrabat thread a clever pass to Thembinkosi Lorch, who finished coolly from close range to reduce the deficit to 2–1.

Juventus continued to dominate but were denied a penalty late in the first half after Francisco Conceição went down in the box. The referee, seemingly unsighted, waved play on.

The Italian giants nearly extended their lead in the second half. Andrea Cambiaso struck the post in the 57th minute, and Randal Kolo Muani fired narrowly wide five minutes later.

Their persistence paid off in the 69th minute when Yildiz completed his brace with a low-driven finish, making it 3–1.

Wydad mounted a spirited late challenge, with Seleman Mwalimu and Mohammed Moufid both testing Juventus goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio, who pulled off two brilliant saves in stoppage time to deny a potential comeback.

In the dying moments, Wydad’s Guilherme Ferreira was penalised for holding in the box, and Juventus were awarded a penalty. Dusan Vlahovic stepped up confidently and slotted home in the 94th minute to seal a 4–1 victory.

With the win, Juventus march on to the quarterfinals, sending a clear message about their title ambitions at this year’s Club World Cup. Wydad, despite flashes of brilliance, exit the tournament ruing missed chances and defensive lapses.