Match Report and Player Ratings: Manchester City 6-0 Al Ain (FIFA Club World Cup Group Stage) | OneFootball

Manchester City made it two wins out of two and sealed progression out of their Club World Cup group with a simple 6-0 win over Al Ain in Atlanta.

The game was over by the half-time stage as a spirited effort from the United Arab Emirates side was put to the sword by City thanks to goals from Ilkay Gundogan, a first for the club from Claudio Echeverri and an Erling Haaland penalty.

Goal difference may have been on the minds of the City players as a seven-goal win would have meant just a draw against Juventus would be enough for top of the group but they settled for six in the end – as second-half efforts from Gundogan, Oscar Bobb and another first-time scorer in Rayan Cherki sealed the hammering.

City struck early and then from a set-piece against Wydad AC in their first game, and they opened the scoring from a set-piece which was early here; Bernardo Silva’s corner dropped for Gundogan at the back post, with the German chopping onto his left foot and clipping a dink to the back post, deceiving goalkeeper Khalid Eisa and drifting over his head and in.

Al Ain didn’t initially look like a team who had just lost their opening group game 5-0 though, playing aggressively and creating their first big opening when Abdul Traore robbed Nico Gonzalez and put Nassim Chadli clean through on goal, with his shot from the angle pushed away by the fingertips of Stefan Ortega.

But City survived, and not long later they doubled their lead when Echeverri stepped up to a free-kick on the edge of the area and curled through a rather embarrassing gap in the Al Ain wall to find the top corner – and without wanting to put any undue pressure on the 19-year-old, emulate a goal scored in this very stadium on Thursday by his compatriot, one Lionel Andres Messi.

Haaland had passed up a decent opening within seconds of the restart from the second goal and they threatened again with another corner on the half-hour mark, this time hitting the post through Josko Gvardiol’s header.

City’s number nine would soon get his chance from 12 yards though as Manuel Akanji was subject to a pull-push combo from Al Ain defender Rami Rabia, and after a VAR review to see the clear decision he was looking directly at, referee Mustapha Ghorbal awarded the penalty and Haaland tucked it home with ease.

The three-goal advantage gave City the license to experiment and express themselves in the second-half, with Matheus Nunes using that freedom to produce a moment of near-genius, juggling an aerial ball on his head on the box for several bounces before letting it drop onto his foot, seeing the venomous volley flash just wide and a memorable goal not quite come to fruition.

A rare attack from Al Ain saw Chadli sit down a couple of defenders bit blaze his strike high over the bar, and City quickly showed how it was done with their fourth goal; Silva had all the time in the world to carry the ball towards the box and slip it through to Gundogan, whose first touch was beautiful to put himself one-on-one and his second to lift it over Eisa was even better.

The comfortable margin allowed Pep Guardiola to continue Rodri and Bobb’s recoveries from injury for the final half-hour, and despite still display some ring-rust, the pair combined for City’s fifth goal, as fellow substitute Rayan Cherki worked some magic by the corner flag, freeing the Spaniard to pick out the Norwegian, who wrong-footed Eisa with a smart finish into the near post.

And it was soon to be Cherki’s turn to get his name on the scoresheet, brilliantly dummying a pass from Gundogan and latching onto Haaland’s lay-off, striking a fierce finish into the bottom corner to complete the scoring and underline the rout.

Here’s how we rated the players in Manchester City’s dismantling of Al Ain!

Player Ratings

Starting XI

Stefan Ortega – 7

Faced the early challenge of a chance for Chadli which he dealt with strongly. Was rarely ever called upon thereafter.

Abdukodir Khusanov – 6

Probably not helped by the fact he hasn’t pulled on a Manchester City shirt since March but he looked rusty. Mistimed a few challenges and misplaced a few passes, although never in a costly manner.

Manuel Akanji – 7.5

Mopped up what few loose balls Al Ain were able to force into the City half, also winning a penalty after being manhandled in the area.

Josko Gvardiol – 8

Carried on how he left off at the end of the Premier League season with a composed centre-back performance. Unlucky not to add a goal too with his header off the post.

Rayan Ait-Nouri – 8.5

Very impressive first outing, showcasing his technical talent and his physical drive. Can maybe blame his boots for costing him a debut Manchester City goal, as a mazy run saw him dart into the box before one of a number of slips throughout the match saw him lose his footing.

Nico Gonzalez – 6.5

Saw a good amount of the ball in deep midfield and largely used it sensibly. The exception was a poor giveaway which almost allowed Al Ain an equaliser.

Ilkay Gundogan – 9 (MOTM)

Superb controlling display. Added to his dominance of the midfield with two very well-taken goals (even if the intention of the first was dubious).

Bernardo Silva – 8

Had to put up with a lot of traffic on the right in the first-half and didn’t link up all that often with Nunes. Was far more freed in the second and used it well to assist Gundogan.

Matheus Nunes – 7

Never stopped running in behind and trying things, although not everything came off for him in his unnatural right-wing role. Seemed a little more at home when he moved back to right-back, even if that isn’t his natural home either.

Erling Haaland – 7.5

Kept out of much of the action as usual, but as usual, managed to get himself on the scoresheet. Should have added at least two more, but did assist Cherki neatly.

Claudio Echeverri – 7.5

Started in confident fashion, and that belief was evident as he stroked home his first goal for the club from a well-hit free-kick. Perhaps not deemed ready for a full match by Pep Guardiola and was withdrawn at half-time.

Substitutes

Phil Foden – 7

Joined in with the game already at 3-0 and seemed to revel in the freedom it gave him. Should have scored a late chance though.

Rodri – 6

Still looked several steps off his usual pace, misreading loose balls and giving some passes away. Set up Bobb.

Oscar Bobb – 6.5

Likewise, his usual game of going past defenders easily didn’t come naturally to him, although his hit rate perhaps exceeded that of the Ballon d’Or winner. Struck his goal well.

Ruben Dias – 6

Swept up on one occasion in the only thing asked of him.

Rayan Cherki – 7

Did a lot with his limited time, having a hand in the final two goals and giving a glimpse of the outrageous talent which has so many City fans excited about him.