Marrakech – Wydad concluded their Club World Cup journey with a 2-1 defeat to Al Ain at Washington’s Audi Subject on Thursday. The Moroccan champions, who opened the scoring by way of Cassius Mailula within the fourth minute, in the end completed backside of Group G with out a single level.
Al Ain responded with targets from captain Kodjo Laba, who transformed a penalty simply earlier than halftime, and Alejandro Romero, who netted the winner 5 minutes after the break. The victory was the primary for the Emirati aspect within the event, although each groups had already been eradicated prior to this remaining group match.
The contest started brightly for Wydad when Mailula capitalized on a superb buildup. Nordin Amrabat delivered a protracted move to Omar Al Somah, who shortly centered the ball for the South African striker. Mailula managed skillfully, turned, and fired a exact shot into the highest nook previous Rui Patricio.
Wydad almost doubled their benefit within the twentieth minute when Ayoub Boucheta’s highly effective effort struck the crossbar. The Moroccan aspect confirmed promising attacking intent throughout the opening exchanges.
Al Ain regularly labored their approach again into the match. Their persistence paid off in first-half stoppage time when referee Drew Fischer awarded a penalty after VAR overview confirmed Boucheta had fouled Adis Jasic within the field. Laba stepped up and dispatched the spot-kick with confidence, sending Mehdi Benabid the incorrect approach.
The Emirati membership accomplished their comeback within the fiftieth minute by way of Romero. The aim got here after a flowing transfer involving Facundo Zabala and Matías Palacios, with the latter offering the ultimate help for Romero’s medical left-footed end into the highest nook. The aim underwent VAR overview however was in the end confirmed.
Wydad pushed for an equalizer however struggled to create clear alternatives within the second half. Their greatest probability got here when Zemraoui’s shot rattled the crossbar. In the meantime, Al Ain had alternatives to prolong their lead, with Laba lacking a golden probability within the 76th minute when he failed to hit the goal from shut vary following Soufiane Rahimi’s setup.
The match grew more and more bodily within the closing levels, with Nordin Amrabat receiving a yellow card within the 83rd minute after a confrontation with Palacios. The referee added eight minutes of stoppage time, however Wydad couldn’t discover a approach by way of Al Ain’s decided protection.
With this consequence, Wydad finish their marketing campaign on the backside of Group G with zero factors and a -6 aim distinction. Manchester Metropolis and Juventus had already secured qualification to the knockout levels with six factors every, rendering this match inconsequential for event development.
The defeat marks a disappointing conclusion for the Moroccan champions within the expanded Club World Cup format, having failed to register a single level throughout their group matches towards elite opposition.
