Manchester City started their bid to retain the Club World Cup with a routine 2-0 win over Wydad Casablanca in Philadelphia.
New signings Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki were both handed their City debuts by Pep Guardiola at Lincoln Financial Field.
But it was Phil Foden who had the biggest impact on a one-sided contest, opening the scoring after a minute and 51 seconds for his first goal since January.
Foden then set up Jeremy Doku’s second shortly before half-time with a superb delivery from a corner and, though City didn’t add to their lead, Wydad never threatened a comeback even after a late red card for Rico Lewis.
City will now turn their attention to their next assignment in Group G, which sees them face Al Ain on Sunday, when Wydad will face Juventus.
Manchester City v Wydad Casablanca
City needed just two minutes to break the deadlock, Foden steering in after Savinho’s near-post cross was palmed into his path by El Mehdi Benabid. It marked his first goal since finding the net in the Premier League against Chelsea nearly five months ago.
They wasted no time in pushing for a second, Omar Marmoush and Nathan Ake each going close, but Thembinkosi Lorch was a constant irritant at the other end, with City centre-back Vitor Reis enduring a difficult opening half.
Yet Foden would have doubled his tally if not for a fine reflex save from Benabid following a cutback from Cherki.
City did further their command in the 42nd minute, Foden involved again as his corner to the far post was turned home by Doku with an unorthodox volley.
The second half was, for the most part, largely low-key, with the best opportunity falling to Erling Haaland.
Haaland, having come off the bench, fired over the bar on the turn following good work from Lewis.
But Lewis will now be suspended after he was shown a straight red with two minutes remaining in normal time.
Lewis won the ball in a sliding challenge with Wydad’s Samuel Obeng, however, his follow through saw him catch Obeng in the face with his studs.
Referee Ramon Abatti deemed that sufficient reason to send Lewis off, much to the full-back’s bemusement.
Still, Wydad never looked like taking advantage of the extra man, and it was City who went closest to scoring the game’s third when Haaland was played through in stoppage time, only to see Benabid deny Guardiola’s men a final flourish.
