Juventus thump Al Ain in Club World Cup after Trump visit / Photo: © AFP
Juventus thump Al Ain in Club World Cup after Trump visit
Randal Kolo Muani and Francisco Conceicao both bagged braces as Juventus hammered Al Ain 5-0 on Wednesday in their Club World Cup opener in Washington.
The Italian giants, who sent a delegation to visit US President Donald Trump at the White House earlier in the day, cruised to the top of Group G above Manchester City, who beat Wydad AC earlier on.
Some Juventus players and staff were asked by Trump, whom they presented with a club shirt, whether they thought a woman would be able to make their first team.
Trump was making a point against transgender athletes, but Juve general manager Damien Comolli replied that the club had a "very good women's team".
The Juventus players stayed silent but were far more comfortable speaking on the pitch as they dismantled UAE's Al Ain at Audi Field.
Kolo Muani, who extended his loan from Paris Saint-Germain to play in the tournament in the US, opened the scoring after 11 minutes with a towering header from Alberto Costa's cross.
Igor Tudor's Juventus doubled the lead 10 minutes later when Conceicao, on loan from Porto, skipped away from one defender in the box before firing home with the help of a deflection.
Turkish forward Kenan Yildiz netted the third after 31 minutes, carving out some space on the edge of the box and drilling in at the near post.
French striker Kolo Muani grabbed his second with a deft finish in first-half stoppage time to pile on the misery for Al Ain.
Kouame Autonne had a goal disallowed for offside for the UAE side before Conceicao struck again, benefitting from another slight deflection.
Kolo Muani might have completed his hat-trick when sent through but goalkeeper Rui Patricio shut him down well, and Douglas Luiz blasted narrowly off-target late on.
Juventus, who finished fourth in Serie A, are hoping to make up for a trophyless season with success in the United States this summer.
W.Baxter--TNT
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