Manager Pep Guardiola was a little disappointed that Manchester City were unable to get a seventh goal in their rout of Al-Ain on Sunday despite the English club securing passage to the knockout stages of the Club World Cup.

German Ilkay Gundogan scored two goals as City comfortably dispatched the Emiratis 6-0 at Mercedes-Benz stadium to draw level with Juventus on points and goal difference at the top of Group G.

WHY IT’S IMPORTANT

City play Juventus in their final opening-round match on Thursday to decide who tops the group and who finishes second.

Juventus go into the clash with a slight edge as goals scored is the second tiebreaker after goal difference for teams level on points. Juve have scored nine goals to City’s eight.

In the round of 16, the top team in Group G will play the second-placed team in Group H, currently Red Bull Salzburg, while the runners-up will face the top team, currently 15-times European champions Real Madrid.

KEY QUOTES

Guardiola: “We pushed and pushed to score another goal to try to finish first, but we missed by one goal. But yeah, we know what we need to do against the Italian team to finish as number one.”

Guardiola on substitute Rodri’s gradual return from an ACL injury: “Step-by-step. He cannot play more than 30 minutes. He still struggles a bit in the duels, still needs to be a little bit stronger, but it’s normal.

“It’s important he played much, much better than the previous game. We miss him a lot. Any team would miss the best player in the world.”

Guardiola on goalscorer Claudio Echeverri: “It’s a pity for the twisted (ankle), which is a little bit sore. It was a problem, that’s why he could not continue after halftime. He’s an incredible player, a big, big talent in small spaces. I’m happy for him, because it was a great goal.”

-Reuters

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Mamelodi Sundowns are bracing for their toughest test yet at the FIFA Club World Cup as they prepare to face German powerhouse Borussia Dortmund on Saturday at the TQL Stadium.

The South African champions, who finished as runners-up in the CAF Champions League earlier this month, made a strong start to their campaign with a 1-0 win over South Korea’s Ulsan HD. The result placed them atop Group F, but head coach Miguel Cardoso knows a different challenge awaits against the Bundesliga giants.

“Upsets can happen when the mental conviction of the team is strong and their emotional connection is so strong that magic can happen,” Cardoso said at a pre-match press conference on Friday. “That’s what I will try to create — an ambiance of ambition, conviction, determination, and the right emotion to play such a game and produce a good result.”

Despite their strong start, Cardoso admits Sundowns are likely to be on the defensive against Dortmund, a side known for their high pressing and aggressive transitions.

“We’re going to play against a team that is very aggressive. It’s a team that scores 40% of their goals from counter pressings,” the Portuguese tactician noted.

This scenario will be unfamiliar territory for Sundowns, who typically control games through dominant possession both in South Africa’s domestic league and on the continental stage.

“We won’t be used to not having the ball much, and obviously that will require us to be resilient and keep organised — even when you are just waiting for the moment to get the ball again,” Cardoso added.

Sundowns are currently the only African side to register a win in this year’s tournament, and the coach says the team is drawing strength from that accomplishment.

“We are very proud of that. What has happened now is that we have opened up a chance for ourselves and turned dreams into objectives,” he said. “But we know what we have ahead and it won’t be easy.”

After facing Dortmund, Sundowns will wrap up their group stage campaign against Brazilian giants Fluminense next Wednesday.

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Esperance of Tunisia breathed new life into their FIFA Club World Cup campaign with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Major League Soccer side Los Angeles FC on Friday night at GEODIS Park, setting up a thrilling three-way contest for the final quarter-final spot in Group G.

Algerian star Youcef Belaili delivered the decisive moment in the 70th minute, finishing coolly at the near post after a surging run and cross from Mohamed Amine Ben Hamida wreaked havoc in the LAFC penalty area. The goal sent the large contingent of Tunisian supporters into raptures.

Belaili’s match-winning contribution came just 20 minutes after VAR denied him a penalty and controversially booked him for simulation — a moment that had threatened to derail Espérance’s evening. Despite the yellow card ruling him out of the decisive clash with Chelsea due to suspension, the forward made sure to leave his mark.

Storms and Disallowed Goals Set the Tone

The night’s drama began before kickoff, with severe thunderstorms over Tennessee forcing a delay of nearly an hour. When the match eventually got underway, LAFC appeared sharper in the opening stages.

Denis Bouanga and teenage sensation David Martínez both had goals chalked off for offside in a first half that produced just six shots — the lowest of any half in the tournament so far. Nonetheless, the best chance of the opening period fell to Esperance, when Belaili broke free inside three minutes only to be denied by Hugo Lloris’ outstretched leg.

VAR Drama and a Thunderstorm Twist

The tension ratcheted up in the 54th minute when referee Anthony Taylor initially awarded Esperance a penalty after Bouanga clipped Belaili in the box. But after a VAR review, the decision was overturned, and Belaili was instead shown a yellow card for simulation — his second of the tournament, triggering a one-match ban.

Minutes later, a fierce thunderstorm forced a second delay, but the interruption worked in Espérance’s favour. Head coach Maher Kenzari introduced Yann Sas and Ashraf Jabri to bolster the counterattack, and it was this tactical tweak that paved the way for the breakthrough.

Late Drama and Heroics in Goal

Belaili’s 70th-minute strike was almost followed by a second as Espérance pressed to seal the win. Sas narrowly missed after weaving through defenders, while Khalil Kenichi rattled the crossbar with a thunderous effort.

At the other end, LAFC refused to go quietly. Bouanga forced a fine fingertip save from Bashir Ben Said, and substitute Jeremy Ebobisse fired over from close range. In stoppage time, LAFC were handed a golden opportunity when Kenichi brought down Bouanga in the box. But the Gabonese forward’s penalty was brilliantly saved by Ben Said, sparking wild celebrations from the Tunisian fans.

Group G Wide Open

The victory moves Esperance level on three points with Chelsea, though they sit behind the English side on goal difference. Flamengo, with two wins from two, are already through as group winners.

LAFC, winless after back-to-back losses, are eliminated regardless of their final result against Flamengo in Orlando.

Esperance now face a must-win clash against Chelsea at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on Tuesday. A victory would complete a stunning turnaround for the North Africans and secure a place in the quarter-finals — a potential triumph for both the club and African football.

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