Goals galore for the African Clubs at the Club World Cup 2025 in Matchday 2 as Wydad Casablanca became the first African team to be knocked out of the intercontinental club competition. We bring you the summary of the latest action in this episode:
PALMEIRAS VS AL AHLY FC
Egyptian Champions Al Ahly lost 2-0 to their Brazilian opponents Palmeiras at the MetLife Stadium.
The first half ended goalless, as neither side managed to find the breakthrough. The second half started lively, as Palmeiras took the lead through a massive slice of fortune. Al Ahly striker Wessam Abou Ali went from hero to zero as he headed a free-kick into the back of his net in the 49th minute. It was a beautiful finish, but on the wrong end of the pitch.
Argentine Striker José Manuel López netted a second for Palmeiras from a quick counterattack in the 59th minute. Afterwards, the match was suspended for around 40 minutes in the second half because of extreme weather. Despite a flurry of substitutions by manager Jose Riveiro after the restart and a couple of half chances, they could not snatch anything from the match.
ESPERANCE DE TUNIS VS LOS ANGELES FC
ES Tunis sprung a surprise defeat on Los Angeles FC in their Group D Matchday 2 fixture at Geodis Park. The Tunisians knew they needed a win against their American counterparts to keep their knockout qualification hopes alive, and they took their chances clinically. LAFC had two goals ruled out for offside in the opening 30 minutes as the first half ended on a goalless note.
After the restart, they came out firing on all cylinders and were awarded a penalty soon after. Their joy was short-lived as the penalty call was overturned for simulation. The Beast of Africa were undeterred and found the breakthrough star midfielder Youcef Belaïli in the 70th minute. The ball fell to him in the box, and he cut in on his right foot before squeezing his shot past the goalie. The Tunisian Club’s first goal at the tournament! LAFC found a lifeline in the game’s closing minutes as they were awarded a penalty. Tunisian Midfielder Khalil Guenichi was adjudged to have felled Marlon in the area, and Gabonese striker Denis Bouanga stepped up to restore parity for his side.
ES Tunis goalkeeper Bechir Ben Said rose to the occasion heroically, denying Bouanga brilliantly with his legs to seal a famous victory for his side. Flamengo has booked their spot in the knockout rounds, and the winner in the clash between Chelsea and ES Tunis will secure the second qualification spot.
WYDAD AC VS JUVENTUS FC
Wydad Casablanca were helpless as Italian heavyweights Juventus FC claimed a resounding victory against the Moroccan Club in their Group G Matchday 2 fixture at the Lincoln Financial Field.
Wydad AC were thrown into chaos as Kenan Yıldız’s shot took a brutal deflection off Moroccan defender Abdelmounaim Boutouil in the sixth minute, wrong-footing goalkeeper Mehdi Benabid at the near post to give the Italian side the lead. The Turkish side struggled to contain Yıldız throughout the game, and he doubled the lead for the Italians with a thunderbolt in the 16th minute.
South African international Thembinkosi Lorch grabbed a lifeline for the Ferocious Beasts, halving the deficit in the 25th minute. Nordin Amrabat pounced on a misplaced clearance assist and teased a perfectly weighted pass into Lorch’s path. Lorch did the rest, dinking the ball artistically over the onrushing goalkeeper. A peach of a goal! His goal was the first goal scored by Morocco’s Club of the Nation in the CWC 2025. Wydad AC made substitutions at the start of the second half; however, it was not enough for them.
The Old Lady notched two second-half goals through Yıldız and Dusan Vlahović to seal a resounding victory over the Ferocious Beasts. Subsequently, the Moroccan Club became the first African Club to be eliminated from the competition.
MAMELODI SUNDOWNS VS BORUSSIA DORTMUND
Mamelodi Sundowns have been the best African Club at the CWC 2025, and they reinforced their status in their thriller against Borussia Dortmund in their Group F Matchday 2 fixture at the TQL Stadium.
The match got off to an entertaining start as Lucas Ribeiro Costa opened the scoring for Sundowns with a magical solo goal in the 11th minute of the game. Receiving a pass from Tashreeq Matthews in his own half, he skipped past an opposition challenge skillfully, left another defender for dead, charged through unmarked on goal, and finished emphatically beyond the helpless goalie. A stunning contender for goal of the tournament.
The Masandanwa’s ecstasy was short-lived. Felix Nmecha brought The Black and Yellow level in the 16th minute, capitalising on goalkeeper Ronwen Williams’ howler. Serhou Guirassy added a second for Dortmund in the 34th minute with a towering header to Julian Brandt’s cross to give the German club the lead. A goal by Jobe Bellingham in the closing minutes of the first half completed Dortmund’s comeback.
Sundowns could not catch a break as defender Khuliso Mudau parried Daniel Svensson’s wicked cross into his net. Beaten, bruised, and battered, The South Africans decided to abandon all restraint and go all-out. South African striker Iqraam Rayners grabbed Sundowns’ second goal in the 62nd minute. Tebogo Mokoena’s header cannoned off the upright, and Rayners reacted instinctively with a header of his own to guide the ball into the net. Game on!
South African substitutes Lebo Mothiba and Kutlwano Letlhaku combined to devastating fashion on the stroke of the 90th minute to set up a tense finale as Mothiba netted Sundowns’ third goal. Letlhaku regained possession in midfield and released a beautiful pass to Mothiba, who buried his shot clinically. Mothiba was introduced for goalscorer Rayners in the 77th minute, and he justified his inclusion perfectly. It was a relief for Dortmund as Sundowns could not grab an equaliser before the final whistle. An entertaining match nonetheless, and the South African side can take great pride in their efforts against a top European Club.
Mamelodi Sundowns need a win against Fluminense in their final group fixture to guarantee their passage to the knockout rounds. The stakes are high, and they have to be at their unstoppable best on their date with destiny.
