JUVENTUS 2-5 MANCHESTER CITY: Pep Guardiola’s side thrashed the Italian giants as they secured top spot in their Club World Cup group with an impressive and dominant performance
They even brought the rain to make Manchester City feel right at home. But Pep Guardiola and Co will be able to enjoy the usual Florida sunshine for at least a few more days yet as they booked their place in the last 16 of the Club World Cup.
City absolutely battered and outclassed Juventus with a victory which also delivered a strong message of intent against another European superpower to book their tie in Orlando next Monday.
This city is used to sunshine and soaring temperatures but the humidity was eased a little bit by the English weather with a huge downpour of heavy rain just before half time.
It sent most of the 54,320 crowd running for cover as the Camping World Stadium was suddenly drenched because there are no roofs let alone air conditioning in this place.
But City looked so strong, in control and like potential winners as Guardiola must feel as if his team – with new signings like Rayan Aït-Nouri and Tijjani Reijnders settling in nicely – are gaining momentum and belief.
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They are one of the teams who can believe they can win the tournament and this match was also a nice taste of things to come because City played at a high level.
Erling Haaland scored his 300th career goal – only his second from open play since February – while Jeremy Doku sparkled and scored, Phil Foden and Savinho got in on the act plus Matheus Nunes was involved in two of the goals.
They did concede after a terrible mistake by City keeper Ederson and Dušan Vlahović got a late consolation but the defence was largely untroubled.
City started well and took an early lead as Aït-Nouri’s superb slide rule pass completely unlocked the Juventus defence which allowed Doku to race through and slot a low shot into the far corner.
But their good work was undone by Ederson who made a rare error playing out from the back to allow Teun Koopmeiners to equalise after 11 minutes.
But City were back in front before half time and this time they were the recipients of a complete gift. Nunes broke down the right, sent over a low cross and inexplicably Pierre Kalulu could not sort out of his feet and put the ball into his own net.
Haaland replaced Omar Marmoush at half time and that change was quickly rewarded as the giant striker got City’s third. Reijnders played Nunes down the line and his pull back was so easy for Haaland that he almost tripped over his own feet and still scored.
Incredibly, that was Haaland’s 33rd goal of the season and also marked his 300th career goal. And this was supposed to be a lean year by his standards.
City got a fourth after 69 minutes. Haaland played the ball up to Phil Foden, Savinho then tried to get in on the act before Foden finished it off with a tap-in from close range.
Savinho did then get his own goal for City’s fifth after 75 minutes with a shot which crashed in off the bar before Vlahovic made the score look semi respectable as he sprang the offside trap to get a late consolation.
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