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Much like the recent storm swept through the northwest the prior day, City swept the visitors away at the Etihad Stadium. It was a emphatic three-nil triumph for their manager's side thanks to goals from Rebecca Knaak, Bunny Shaw and Lauren Hemp. It was a performance that truly announced their title credentials as they strengthened their place at the league summit.

Consecutive Losses for Manchester United

This result represented consecutive Women's Super League setbacks for Marc Skinner’s side for the first time since last May, putting them a sizable gap off the top team with their championship aspirations severely dented.

United’s ability to balance league and continental soccer with a limited team has been a hotly discussed issue since they earned a place in the European competition. Considering the calendar, it always seemed this was the week that would truly test this fortitude. Sadly for the away side, they seemed fatigued all game, the historic win against Paris Saint-Germain clearly having had an impact.

Lineup Adjustments

The United manager had attempted to rotate the squad with a several adjustments. Ella Toone, Elisabeth Terland, Dominique Janssen and Galton all added freshness, although the omission of the high-performing Melvine Malard to the sidelines was questioned.

City, in opposition, have no such loading issues. Andrée Jeglertz made one adjustment from the previous win over Everton with Hemp making her first start since returning from a physical setback.

Dominant First Half

The trouble started to build for Skinner and his side from the first whistle. This was a exhibition of the strength from City whose dynamic forward line controlled and tore United open with a excellent opening period performance that saw them score three goals in just over twenty minutes.

This put the hosts completely dominant and saw the visitors struggling. Prior to this match, the away side had let in just few in this domestic competition but they fell apart in the wake of City’s attacking flair.

Early Chances

The omens came early when Miedema used her power to bundle Julia Zigiotti off the ball, only to drag her shot past the post. Lauren Hemp was at the center of everything in the beginning, exploiting the room left by Riviere down United’s wing. Her deliveries were creating danger and led to an opportunity for Yui Hasegawa that Anna Sandberg scrambled off the line.

United had a number of forays forwards, their direct style giving them alternatives in the flanks but they could not test the City goalkeeper. City, meanwhile, commanded possession, taunting their rivals and trying to lure them of their defensive shape.

Triple Strike

They turned chances into goals with almost thirty minutes played when Aoba Fujino won the hosts a set-piece. A ball to the far post was headed across goal by Shaw for Knaak to head in. It was City’s 7th headed goal of the campaign.

They extended their cushion with two more goals just before the half-time. When Jade Rose was allowed to advance through the center from central defence, the play became spacious for the hosts. The prominent Kerstin Casparij picked the ball up on the right side before sending a precise ground pass for Shaw to bundle home. Shortly later, they had a third after a quick change in the ball saw Lauren Hemp afforded the space to drive a shot home from distance.

Final Period

The clearest change came from the United manager at the half-time as Melvine Malard was introduced for Elisabeth Terland but by this time it was too late to change the course of the contest. Ex- City player Park came nearest, hitting the upright, but the visitors were creatively abject and were unable to record a single shot on goal.

The home side, meanwhile, could have added to their cushion when a superb Vivianne Miedema long ball sent Bunny Shaw away only for her to fluff her lines but it was insignificant to the hosts. Previously unable to defeat any team who finished above them the previous campaign, Jeglertz’s side now have victories against Arsenal and United to position them in a strong standing after the opening fixtures.