PHILADELPHIA: Kenan Yildiz struck twice and played a key role in an own goal as Juventus secured a 4-1 win over Morocco’s Wydad Casablanca in the Club World Cup on Sunday to move to the verge of qualifying for the last 16.

The Italian side top Group G with six points after two matches, three clear of Manchester City, who play UAE’s Al Ain later on Sunday. Juve will reach the knockouts if Al Ain fail to beat the Premier League club, who can also book their last-16 berth with victory.

Both Al Ain and Wydad remain without points and on the brink of elimination.

Juventus made the breakthrough in the sixth minute with a well-worked team move that ended with Wydad defender Abdelmounaim Boutouil scoring an own goal.

Following a clever through ball from Khephren Thuram, Yildiz’s angled shot deflected off Boutouil and wrong-footed goalkeeper Mehdi Benabid.

The 20-year-old Turkish forward doubled Juventus’s lead in the 16th minute with a sublime strike from the edge of the box. Receiving the ball in space, Yildiz unleashed a ferocious effort into the top-right corner, leaving Benabid rooted to the spot.

Wydad pulled one back in the 25th minute following a defensive lapse from Juve. Nordin Amrabat pounced on a misplaced clearance, threading a precise ball to Thembinkosi Lorch, who calmly lobbed Juve keeper Michele Di Gregorio.

The goal ignited the Moroccan fans, whose flares created a cloud of red and black smoke that halted play for several minutes, until the smoke dissipated.

Needing at least a draw to keep alive any realistic hope of reaching the last 16 after a 2-0 loss to Manchester City in their opener, Wydad pressed high and unsettled Juventus.

However, the Italian side regained control in the second half, helped by the introduction of Teun Koopmeiners for Weston McKennie.

Andrea Cambiasso went close to restoring Juve’s two-goal cushion in the 55th minute, striking the post with a close-range volley from a corner.

The decisive third goal eventually came in the 69th minute, with Yildiz again the protagonist. He received a neat pass from Randal Kolo Muani, cut inside to evade a defender, and coolly slotted home from close range.

Substitute Dusan Vlahovic sealed the win deep into added time, converting from the penalty spot after being fouled by Guilherme Ferreira.

The Italian giants, unbeaten for two months under coach Igor Tudor, will look to maintain their momentum in their final group match against Manchester City, while Wydad and Al Ain are staring at early elimination.

River Plate held

Monterrey held on to claim a 0-0 draw with River Plate in a prickly Group E clash at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena in the Club World Cup on Saturday as both clubs maintained their hopes of advancing to the knockout rounds.

Goalkeeper Esteban Andrada made vital second-half saves from Franco Mastantuono and Miguel Borja to secure a point for the Mexican side, who had drawn their opening game against Inter Milan on Tuesday.

River Plate’s Kevin Castano was sent off in injury time for a second bookable offence as his side moved level on four points with the Italians at the top of standings. Monterrey sit two points behind the Argentinian side.

Amid a carnival atmosphere at the Rose Bowl, River Plate defender Paulo Diaz had an early sight of goal when he steered a header over the bar.

Sergio Canales’ run from the halfway line ended with River Plate’s Franco Armani making a save to his right, and Gerardo Arteaga blasted over the target when the ball eventually landed at his feet on the edge of the area.

That was to prove a rare sight of the target for the Mexicans, with River Plate slicing their way through the Monterrey defence late in the half.

In a frantic end to an otherwise disjointed opening 45 minutes, Mastantuono played Castano into space inside the area and his cutback found Giuliano Galoppo, whose strike on goal was deflected wide.

Lucas Martinez Quarta should have put River Plate ahead from the resulting corner, the central defender pushing his volley across the face of goal. Mastantuono then saw an attempt deflected wide.

Arteaga hacked Galoppo’s effort off the line as the side from Buenos Aires increased the pressure in the early stages of the second half, while Andrada was on hand to deny Mastantuono as the game approached the final quarter.

Enzo Perez slipped through the Monterrey midfield to feed the Real Madrid-bound winger on the right side of the area, but the goalkeeper read the 17-year-old’s intentions and pushed his curling left-foot shot to safety.

Andrada then raced off his line to deny Borja 14 minutes from time, and the goalkeeper was in position again in the dying moments to block another attempt by the second half substitute.

River Plate finished the game shorthanded when Castano brought down Nelson Deossa as he attempted to launch a late counterattack, the midfielder sent off after picking up his second booking.

River Plate will next face Inter Milan in Seattle on Wednesday, while Monterrey take on already-eliminated Urawa Red Diamonds from Japan at the Rose Bowl.

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