The Citizens Three-Nil The Red Devils: Lauren Hemp finds the net in Manchester City stroll.

Similar to the recent storm tore through the northern region the previous evening, Manchester City overwhelmed United away at the Etihad. It was a convincing three-nil victory for the City coach's side thanks to goals from Rebecca Knaak, Shaw and Hemp. It was a result that clearly signaled their title credentials as they consolidated their place at the WSL pinnacle.

Successive Losses for Manchester United

This result marked back-to-back Women's Super League defeats for the United manager's side for the initial occasion since last May, placing them seven points off the table toppers with their title hopes hanging by a thread.

Manchester United's capacity to manage domestic and continental soccer with a thin squad has been a widely debated topic since they qualified for the European competition. Looking at the fixture list, it always appeared this was the period that would fully examine this capability. Regrettably for the visitors, they looked fatigued all game, the memorable win against PSG clearly having had an impact.

Tactical Shifts

Skinner had sought to freshen things up with a handful of changes. Toone, Terland, Dominique Janssen and Galton all brought vigor, although the dropping of the on-form Melvine Malard to the sidelines was questioned.

City, in opposition, have no similar fitness concerns. Andrée Jeglertz made one change from their most recent win over Everton with Lauren Hemp making her return to the lineup since returning from a physical setback.

Commanding Opening Period

The trouble started to build for the United boss and his team from the opening minute. This was a show of the quality from Manchester City whose dynamic offense controlled and pulled the visitors apart with a sublime opening period showing that saw them score three goals in under half an hour.

This placed City completely dominant and left United disorganized. In advance of this encounter, United had let in just a handful in this domestic competition but they fell apart in the presence of the hosts' attacking flair.

Initial Opportunities

The early indicators came early when Vivianne Miedema used her physicality to push Julia Zigiotti off the ball, only to send her shot past the post. Hemp was at the heart of everything early on, using the space left by Jayde Riviere down the visitors' right flank. Her crosses were causing problems and led to an chance for Yui Hasegawa that Sandberg scrambled off the line.

United had multiple sorties forward, their long-ball tactic giving them choices in the wings but they could not test Ayaka Yamashita. Manchester City, on the other hand, dominated possession, probing their rivals and trying to pull them out of their structure.

Triple Strike

They made their pressure count with almost the first period played when Fujino won the home team a set-piece. A delivery to the far post was nodded across goal by Shaw for Knaak to score. It was City’s 7th headed goal of the season.

They increased their advantage with an additional two goals just before the break. When Jade Rose was allowed to drive through the midfield from central defence, the play became spacious for the hosts. The influential Casparij picked the ball up on the wing before providing a pinpoint low cross for Bunny Shaw to force home. Shortly later, they had a third goal after a swift change in the ball saw Hemp given the space to strike a shot home from range.

After the Break

The most obvious change came from Skinner at the break as Malard was introduced for Terland but by this time it was futile to shift the momentum of the match. Former Manchester City player Park came most likely to score, striking the upright, but the away team were offensively poor and were unable to register a one shot on goal.

The home side, on the other hand, could have extended their advantage when a superb Vivianne Miedema pass sent Shaw away only for her to miss the chance but it mattered little to the hosts. After failing to defeat any opponent who placed above them last season, Jeglertz’s side now have victories against Arsenal and United to put them in a strong situation after nine games.