🔗 Share this article

Much like the recent storm swept through the northwest the previous evening, City swept Manchester United aside at the their home ground. It was a emphatic three-nil victory for the City coach's side thanks to goals from Rebecca Knaak, Shaw and Lauren Hemp. It was a performance that firmly established their championship potential as they reinforced their position at the WSL pinnacle.

Consecutive Defeats for Manchester United

This scoreline marked back-to-back WSL defeats for the United manager's side for the first time since last May, leaving them a significant margin off the league leaders with their trophy ambitions severely dented.

United’s capability to manage league and European soccer with a small team has been a widely debated issue since they earned a place in the UCL. Looking at the schedule, it always seemed this was the period that would fully examine this ability. Regrettably for the visitors, they appeared fatigued throughout, the landmark win against Paris Saint-Germain clearly having left its mark.

Team Changes

The United manager had tried to freshen things up with a a few alterations. Toone, Terland, Janssen and Leah Galton all brought energy, although the exclusion of the on-form Melvine Malard to the bench raised a few eyebrows.

The hosts, in comparison, have no similar loading issues. Andrée Jeglertz made one adjustment from last week’s win over the Toffees with Lauren Hemp making her return to the lineup since recovering from a fitness issue.

Overpowering Start

The storm clouds started to accumulate for the United boss and his team from the kickoff. This was a exhibition of the power from Manchester City whose potent forward line played with and tore United open with a superb initial 45 minutes showing that saw them score three goals in under half an hour.

This left the home team firmly in control and had Manchester United all at sea. Before this encounter, the away side had allowed just six in this domestic competition but they fell apart in the presence of Manchester City's creative prowess.

Initial Opportunities

The warning signs came early when Miedema used her physicality to push Zigiotti off the ball, only to send her shot past the post. Lauren Hemp was at the core of everything early on, using the gap left by Jayde Riviere down the visitors' right side. Her passes were creating danger and led to an attempt for Yui Hasegawa that Sandberg cleared off the line.

The Red Devils had several sorties ahead, their long-ball tactic giving them alternatives in the wings but they could not challenge Ayaka Yamashita. City, on the other hand, dominated the ball, probing their rivals and trying to pull them out of their defensive shape.

Triple Strike

They converted their dominance with almost the first period played when Aoba Fujino won the home team a set-piece. A cross to the back post was headed across goal by Shaw for Knaak to score. It was Manchester City's seventh headed goal of the season.

They added to their advantage with an additional two goals just before the interval. When Rose was able to drive through the middle from defense, the pitch opened up for City. The influential Kerstin Casparij picked the ball up on the right before providing a accurate driven ball for Bunny Shaw to tap home. Four minutes later, they had a additional score after a quick change in possession saw Hemp afforded the opportunity to fire a effort home from distance.

After the Break

The primary adjustment came from the United manager at the interval as Melvine Malard was introduced for Terland but by this time it was too late to alter the outcome of the game. Former Manchester City player Jess Park came closest, rattling the woodwork, but the away team were lacking in ideas and did not manage to register a one shot on target.

The hosts, meanwhile, could have extended their advantage when a excellent Vivianne Miedema through ball sent Shaw away only for her to fail to convert but it did not affect the result to the winning team. After failing to beat any team who placed above them in the prior term, City's side now have successes against the Gunners and Manchester United to position them in a strong situation after the opening fixtures.