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Just as bad weather hit the north-west the night before, Manchester City overwhelmed United away at the Etihad. It was a statement three-nil triumph for Andrée Jeglertz’s side owing to goals from Rebecca Knaak, Bunny Shaw and Lauren Hemp. It was a display that firmly established their title credentials as they consolidated their standing at the top of the table.

Successive Setbacks for Manchester United

This result signalled successive WSL setbacks for the United manager's side for the initial occasion since last May, placing them seven points off the top team with their championship aspirations hanging by a thread.

The Red Devils' ability to balance league and European football with a thin team has been a widely debated topic since they earned a place in the UCL. Reviewing the schedule, it always felt like this was the period that would seriously challenge this capability. Sadly for the visitors, they looked weary all game, the memorable win against the French side clearly having left its mark.

Lineup Adjustments

Skinner had attempted to rotate the squad with a a few alterations. Toone, Elisabeth Terland, Janssen and Galton all added vigor, although the omission of the high-performing Malard to the sidelines was questioned.

The hosts, in comparison, have no similar workload worries. The City coach made one change from the previous win over the Toffees with Hemp making her return to the lineup since recovering from a physical setback.

Overpowering Start

The storm clouds started to accumulate for the United boss and his team from the opening minute. This was a exhibition of the power from Manchester City whose energetic forward line manipulated and pulled the visitors apart with a excellent first half performance that saw them put three past the keeper in under half an hour.

This placed City in a commanding position and had Manchester United struggling. In advance of this fixture, the away side had let in just few in this WSL season but they fell apart in the presence of City’s creative prowess.

Early Chances

The early indicators came quickly when Miedema used her physicality to bundle Zigiotti off the ball, only to drag her shot off target. Hemp was at the center of everything in the beginning, exploiting the gap left by Riviere down United’s right side. Her deliveries were posing a threat and led to an chance for Yui Hasegawa that Sandberg kicked off the line.

The Red Devils had multiple forays ahead, their long-ball tactic giving them alternatives in the wings but they could not challenge the City goalkeeper. City, on the other hand, dominated the ball, taunting their opponents and trying to lure them of their organization.

Triple Strike

They converted their dominance with almost the first period played when Fujino won the home team a corner. A ball to the far post was directed across goal by Shaw for Knaak to head in. It was City’s 7th header of the campaign.

They extended their lead with two more goals just before the half-time. When Rose was able to drive through the middle from defense, the play became spacious for City. The influential Kerstin Casparij collected the pass on the wing before sending a accurate ground pass for Shaw to tap home. Four minutes later, they had a third after a swift shift in the ball saw Hemp allowed the space to drive a attempt home from outside the box.

After the Break

The primary substitution came from the United manager at the interval as Melvine Malard entered for Terland but by this time it was too late to shift the momentum of the match. Former Manchester City player Jess Park came nearest, striking the upright, but the away team were creatively abject and did not manage to produce a one shot on goal.

The hosts, on the other hand, could have increased their lead when a excellent Vivianne Miedema long ball sent Shaw away only for her to miss the chance but it mattered little to the winning team. Previously unable to beat any team who ended above them in the prior term, City's side now have victories against Arsenal and Manchester United to place them in a commanding standing after nine games.