Orlando, Florida – Erling Haaland reached a remarkable career milestone as he scored his 300th top-level goal to help Manchester City dispatch Juventus 5-2 in scorching conditions in Orlando on Saturday night, securing top spot in Group G at the FIFA Club World Cup.
The Norwegian striker came off the bench at half-time and made an immediate impact, scoring with a scuffed finish to underline his predatory instincts, even on an unusually quiet night by his standards.
The 23-year-old’s landmark goal added to a dominant performance from Pep Guardiola’s side, who will now face Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal in the last 16 on Tuesday.
Despite the 32°C heat and a brief period of showers, City maintained their high-intensity style and imposed themselves early in the match. Jeremy Doku, one of the standout performers of the tournament so far, continued his fine form by scoring inside the opening 10 minutes.
The Belgian winger latched on to a beautifully disguised pass from Rayan Ait-Nouri, cut inside, and calmly slotted home into the bottom corner.
However, City’s early lead was short-lived as a wayward pass from goalkeeper Ederson gifted Juventus an equaliser. Teun Koopmeiners intercepted the loose ball, surged into the penalty area, and powered in a shot to make it 1-1 in a game that threatened to turn chaotic.
But the Italian side undid their own work moments later with a calamitous own goal. With no Manchester City player in sight, Juventus defender Pierre Kalulu inexplicably side-footed Matheus Nunes’ low cross into his own net, handing the English champions a 2-1 lead before the break.
Guardiola introduced Haaland after the interval, and the forward wasted little time in stamping his mark. Matheus Nunes, once again involved in the build-up, delivered a square pass that Haaland awkwardly converted off his standing foot to bring up his 300th goal across club and international appearances.
City’s control was unrelenting, and Phil Foden added a fourth with a composed finish from close range after good work on the right flank.
Substitute Savinho then made it five with the most spectacular strike of the match — a thunderous drive from outside the box that gave Juve goalkeeper Mattia Perin no chance.
Dusan Vlahovic salvaged a late consolation for Juventus, finally finding the net after a string of missed chances. The Serbian striker’s goal, however, did little to ease the pain of a heavy defeat.
Manchester City finish the group stage with a perfect record, underlining their credentials as one of the favourites to win the revamped Club World Cup. Juventus, on the other hand, will now face a tougher path through the knockout rounds after finishing second in the group.
City’s attention now turns to Al-Hilal in the last 16, with Haaland’s form and their attacking fluency giving Guardiola’s men a major boost in their quest for another piece of silverware on the global stage.
