Wydad AC 1-2 Al Ain FC | Group G
Wydad goal: Cassius Mailula (4)
Al Ain goals: Kodjo Laba (45 pen), Kaku (50)
Al Ain FC ended their FIFA Club World Cup 2025™ campaign on a high by battling back from a goal down to beat Wydad AC in Washington, D.C.
Though both sides had already been ruled out of the Round-of-16 running, pride and a piece of Club World Cup history proved more than sufficient motivation to produce a compelling, keenly-contested clash in the USA capital.
Wydad were the quicker out of the traps and, after some enterprising early play, were rewarded for their efforts with a deserved fourth-minute opener. It was a beautifully-constructed and expertly-finished goal, too, with Cassius Mailula crashing an unstoppable shot into the top-right corner after some superb approach play down the right flank.
Al Ain’s slow starters steadily grew into the match, however, and would have scored a fine equaliser ten minutes before the interval had Kodjo Laba not strayed narrowly offside before firing home.
The impressive Togolese striker would not be denied though, and scored his team’s maiden goal of the tournament from the penalty spot in first-half stoppage time. Ayoub Boucheta’s trip on Adis Jasic was penalised after a VAR review and Laba dispatched his spot-kick in decisive style, sending the keeper the wrong way.
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The big centre-forward was then heavily involved in the 50th-minute goal that ultimately earned Al Ain all three points. Stealing possession inside the penalty area, he combined with Matias Palacios to tee up Kaku, and the Paraguayan obliged with a wonderful curling left-foot finish from the edge of the area.
Quotes
“At the onset of the match, we tried to impose ourselves. We might have lost a little bit of focus, and then there was a penalty kick. Right after we began conceding goals.”
Abdessamad Ouarrad, Wydad AC, assistant coach
“[I’m] happy because, first of all, we won one game, and the performance of my guys was very good. They did most of the things we prepared for this game, and congrats to them for the victory. It’s not easy when you go behind early. First chance they had, they scored and they hit the post. It was not an easy moment for our team, but as time passed, we started to be compact, we started to play, we started to do the things we know how to do. Then we got the penalty, and we came back into the game. In the second half, I believe we could’ve scored more. We missed two or three good chances.”
Vladimir Ivic, Al Ain head coach
Michelob Ultra Superior Player of the Match
Kodjo Laba (Al Ain)
