By EMMANUEL KUJE, Abuja-
Manchester City thrashed Al Ain 6-0 in the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, securing their spot in the knockout stages.
The match, played at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, saw City dominate proceedings from start to finish. Ilkay Gundogan scored twice, netting in the 9th and 73rd minutes, while Claudio Echeverri and Erling Haaland also scored before halftime. Oscar Bobb and Rayan Cherki sealed the win with late goals.
The victory marked a dominant display by Manchester City, who had 74% possession and outshot Al Ain 21-5. Pep Guardiola’s side made the most of their chances, with Gundogan’s clinical finish opening the scoring.
Echeverri doubled the lead with a beautifully bent free kick, and Haaland scored from the spot in first-half stoppage time.
In the second half, City continued to pour on the pressure, with Gundogan scoring his second goal and Bobb and Cherki adding to the tally in the final minutes. The win puts City top of Group G, alongside Juventus, who they will face in their final group match on Thursday in Orlando.
This upcoming match will determine who finishes first or second in the group.
*Match Details:*
– *Date:* Sunday, June 22, 2025
– *Kickoff Time:* 2:00 AM BST, 21:00 EDT, 18:00 PDT
– *Venue:* Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia
– *Attendance:* 71,000 capacity
– *Result:* Manchester City 6, Al Ain 0
– *Goals:* Gundogan (9′, 73′), Echeverri (28′), Haaland (45+6′ PEN), Bobb (85′), Cherki (90′) ¹
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