Manchester Metropolis began their bid to retain the Membership World Cup with a routine 2-0 win over Wydad Casablanca in Philadelphia.
New signings Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki have been each handed their Metropolis debuts by Pep Guardiola at Lincoln Monetary Area.
However it was Phil Foden who had the largest affect on a one-sided contest, opening the scoring after a minute and 51 seconds for his first purpose since January.
Foden then arrange Jeremy Doku’s second shortly earlier than half-time with an outstanding supply from a nook and, although Metropolis didn’t add to their lead, Wydad by no means threatened a comeback even after a late pink card for Rico Lewis.
Metropolis will now flip their consideration to their subsequent task in Group G, which sees them face Al Ain on Sunday, when Wydad will face Juventus.
Manchester Metropolis v Wydad Casablanca
Metropolis wanted simply two minutes to interrupt the impasse, Foden steering in after Savinho’s near-post cross was palmed into his path by El Mehdi Benabid. It marked his first purpose since discovering the online within the Premier League towards Chelsea practically 5 months in the past.
They wasted no time in pushing for a second, Omar Marmoush and Nathan Ake every going shut, however Thembinkosi Lorch was a continuing irritant on the different finish, with Metropolis centre-back Vitor Reis enduring a tough opening half.
But Foden would have doubled his tally if not for a nice reflex save from Benabid following a cutback from Cherki.
Metropolis did additional their command within the forty second minute, Foden concerned once more as his nook to the far publish was turned house by Doku with an unorthodox volley.
The second half was, for probably the most half, largely low-key, with the most effective alternative falling to Erling Haaland.
Haaland, having come off the bench, fired over the bar on the flip following good work from Lewis.
However Lewis will now be suspended after he was proven a straight pink with two minutes remaining in regular time.
Lewis received the ball in a sliding problem with Wydad’s Samuel Obeng, nonetheless, his comply with by means of noticed him catch Obeng within the face along with his studs.
Referee Ramon Abatti deemed that adequate motive to ship Lewis off, a lot to the full-back’s bemusement.
Nonetheless, Wydad by no means appeared like making the most of the additional man, and it was Metropolis who went closest to scoring the sport’s third when Haaland was performed by means of in stoppage time, solely to see Benabid deny Guardiola’s males a closing flourish.