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Similar to Storm Claudia tore through the northern region the night before, City blew the visitors aside at the Etihad Stadium. It was a statement three goal win for their manager's side thanks to goals from Rebecca Knaak, Bunny Shaw and Hemp. It was a performance that truly announced their leadership claims as they consolidated their standing at the WSL pinnacle.

Successive Losses for Manchester United

This scoreline represented successive Women's Super League defeats for Marc Skinner’s side for the maiden instance since last May, placing them seven points off the table toppers with their championship aspirations severely dented.

United’s ability to juggle league and European soccer with a limited squad has been a widely debated topic since they secured entry to the UCL. Reviewing the calendar, it always appeared this was the matchday that would truly test this fortitude. Unfortunately for the opposition, they seemed fatigued all game, the historic win against Paris Saint-Germain clearly having taken a toll.

Team Changes

Marc Skinner had attempted to freshen things up with a several changes. Ella Toone, Elisabeth Terland, Dominique Janssen and Galton all brought freshness, although the exclusion of the in-form Melvine Malard to the substitutes caused surprise.

The hosts, in comparison, have no such workload issues. Jeglertz made one change from the previous win over Everton with Hemp making her first start since healing from a fitness issue.

Commanding Opening Period

The storm clouds started to build for Skinner and his team from the first whistle. This was a exhibition of the power from Manchester City whose dynamic forward line manipulated and pulled the visitors apart with a superb first half showing that saw them score three goals in 21 minutes.

This left the home team in a commanding position and saw the visitors disorganized. In advance of this fixture, United had allowed just few in this domestic competition but they fell apart in the face of City’s attacking flair.

Opening Threats

The warning signs came quickly when Vivianne Miedema used her strength to push Zigiotti off the ball, only to pull her shot off target. Lauren Hemp was at the core of everything early on, taking advantage of the space left by Jayde Riviere down United’s wing. Her crosses were creating danger and led to an opportunity for Hasegawa that Anna Sandberg kicked off the line.

United had a number of sorties ahead, their straightforward approach giving them choices in the wide areas but they could not test the City goalkeeper. Manchester City, on the other hand, controlled possession, probing their rivals and trying to lure them of their structure.

Goals Galore

They made their pressure count with almost thirty minutes played when Fujino won the home team a corner. A ball to the back post was nodded across goal by Shaw for Knaak to score. It was City’s 7th goal from a cross of the term.

They increased their lead with an additional two goals just before the interval. When Rose was able to maraud through the midfield from central defence, the pitch widened for the hosts. The influential Kerstin Casparij picked the ball up on the right side before sending a accurate low cross for Shaw to tap home. Four minutes later, they had a third after a rapid shift in the ball saw Lauren Hemp given the opportunity to strike a effort home from range.

After the Break

The clearest adjustment came from the United manager at the half-time as Malard came on for Terland but by this time it was too late to alter the outcome of the game. Ex- City player Jess Park came nearest, hitting the post, but the away team were offensively poor and were unable to record a solitary shot on goal.

The home side, meanwhile, could have added to their lead when a superb Vivianne Miedema through ball sent Bunny Shaw away only for her to fail to convert but it was insignificant to the hosts. After failing to beat any team who ended above them the previous campaign, City's side now have victories against the Gunners and United to position them in a strong standing after nine matches.