Kenan Yildiz delivered a standout performance with two goals and an assist as Juventus defeated Morocco’s Wydad Casablanca 4-1 at the FIFA Club World Cup on Sunday, moving a step closer to the knockout stage.
The 20-year-old Turkish international was unlucky not to be officially credited with Juve’s opener after his early shot deflected off Abdelmounaim Boutouil and into the net, going down as an own goal. But there was no disputing his second effort—a thunderous strike from outside the area that gave Juventus a 2-0 lead inside 16 minutes.
Wydad briefly rallied, with Thembinkosi Lorch pulling a goal back before half-time, but Yildiz struck again in the 69th minute to restore Juve’s two-goal cushion. Dusan Vlahovic added a late penalty to seal a convincing win in front of 31,975 fans at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.
Juventus now have six points from two Group G matches, having thrashed Al Ain 5-0 in their opener, and have scored nine goals while conceding just one. Their place in the last 16 will be confirmed if Manchester City avoid defeat against Al Ain later on.
Yildiz Shines Bright
Yildiz, born in Germany, was again at the heart of everything for Juve. After scoring in the opener, he was the driving force behind another dominant attacking display.
“Kenan has great potential,” said manager Igor Tudor post-match. “He has a lot of skills, but more important than that is his intelligence. That’s what makes the difference. He’s a wonderful player with a big future.”
Juventus stuck with the same starting XI from their previous game, meaning key names like Vlahovic and Manuel Locatelli started on the bench. But even without several regular starters, the Italian side were sharp from the outset.
Khephren Thuram set up the opener inside six minutes, teeing up Yildiz whose shot deflected in off Boutouil. Ten minutes later, Andrea Cambiaso broke down the left and laid off the ball for Yildiz, who smashed a half-volley into the top corner to double the lead.
Wydad, needing a result to stay alive in the tournament, responded through Nordin Amrabat’s incisive pass that set up Lorch to coolly finish past Mattia Perin.
But Juventus remained in control. Cambiaso hit the post after the break, and Randal Kolo Muani spurned a golden chance from close range. Moments later, the Frenchman turned provider, slipping a pass through for Yildiz to slot home his second and Juve’s third.
Yildiz, who now has three goals in the tournament and 12 in all competitions this season, was substituted before Vlahovic converted a stoppage-time penalty—awarded after he was brought down by Guilherme Ferreira.
What’s Next
Wydad are now eliminated after back-to-back defeats to Manchester City and Juventus. Meanwhile, Juve top the group and will wrap up their group-stage campaign against City on Thursday in Orlando—where top spot and knockout positioning may be on the line.
Tudor’s side look full of momentum, and with Yildiz in electric form, Juventus could prove a serious threat in the latter stages of the competition.
