On a sweltering night at Audi Field in Washington, D.C., Al Ain beat Wydad Casablanca 2-1 in each club's final Group G match of the FIFA Club World Cup. 

The win provided a mixed conclusion for each club: Al Ain earned their first win of the tournament, and Wydad finished bottom of the group table after failing to earn points in a tough group featuring Manchester City and Juventus.

The match went flat with energy right from the start.

Wydad opened the scores, sparking hope among their steadfast supporters. Already in the 4th minute, Soumah's predatory instincts were on display. Collecting a well-weighted pass from Amrabat, Soumah unleashed a low cross, and Mailula turned sharply and shot into the roof—a declaration of intent by the Moroccan team from the offset.

Wydad pressed their advantage and nearly doubled their lead in the 20th minute when Zemraoui’s thunderous effort crashed off the crossbar, leaving Al Ain’s defense scrambling. Yet, the Emirati club weathered the storm and gradually found their rhythm, with Palacios and Rahimi probing down the flanks.

The drama intensified just before halftime.

In stoppage time, Al Ain's relentless pressure finally paid off as Rahimi was brought down in the box by Boucheta. The referee indicated a penalty after a VAR check. Captain Kodjo Fo-Doh Laba stepped up and slot the penalty past Benabid, to make it 1-1 at halftime.
The second half was underway with more desperation for both sides, but Al Ain gained the upper hand. With only five minutes into the second half, Palacios collected the ball high on the field and passed it to Kaku, who curled a stunning left-footed shot into the far corner, where there was no chance for Benabid, and Al Ain were 2-1 ahead. 

The goal withstood a rapid VAR check for a possible foul during the build-up, adding to the mounting tension.
Wydad, anxious to avoid a winless group phase, threw bodies forward. Moubarik made a sharp save from Rui Patricio, and replacement Moutaraji added some energy. Al Ain's back four, captained by Traoré and Rabia, was strong, though. The game came close to boiling over as tempers flared—Amrabat and Palacios exchanged words and were firmly warned by the referee, while Amrabat was bookable for an awful tackle.

The final minutes were frantic.

Al Ain should have sealed the victory when Laba wasted a gilt-edged chance at point-blank range, and Rahimi blazed over on a risky counter-attack. Wydad sent everything forward in the eight minutes of added time, but Al Ain managed the clock beautifully, taunting their opponents and claiming victory.

When the referee's whistle sounded,

Al Ain players were overjoyed in their deserving win, securing third position in the group with three points. Wydad, despite their moments of brilliance, lamented their inability to score when it really mattered and went back home empty-handed.
This gripping game, replete with first-half drama, VAR drama, and a tension-filled climax, was a fitting conclusion to both teams' Club World Cup odyssey. 

A night of pride and redemption for Al Ain; an evening of learning in the exquisite subtleties of top-drawer football for Wydad.