The Citizens Three Goals to Nil Manchester United: Lauren Hemp on target in City comfortable victory.

Similar to bad weather hit the north-west the night before, the home side blew Manchester United away at the Etihad Stadium. It was a convincing 3-0 victory for Andrée Jeglertz’s side owing to goals from Rebecca Knaak, Shaw and Lauren Hemp. It was a display that truly announced their title credentials as they consolidated their position at the league summit.

Back-to-Back Losses for United

This scoreline represented consecutive league setbacks for Skinner's side for the initial occasion since last May, leaving them a significant margin off the top team with their trophy ambitions in serious doubt.

United’s ability to manage domestic and European soccer with a limited team has been a frequently analyzed topic since they qualified for the UCL. Considering the calendar, it always seemed this was the matchday that would truly test this capability. Regrettably for the opposition, they seemed tired throughout, the landmark win against PSG clearly having had an impact.

Team Changes

Marc Skinner had sought to make changes with a handful of adjustments. Toone, Terland, Dominique Janssen and Leah Galton all added freshness, although the exclusion of the on-form Melvine Malard to the bench raised a few eyebrows.

The hosts, in comparison, have no similar loading worries. Jeglertz made a single alteration from their most recent win over Everton with Lauren Hemp making her first start since returning from a fitness issue.

Commanding Opening Period

The trouble started to gather for Skinner and his team from the first whistle. This was a show of the strength from Manchester City whose dynamic forward line manipulated and pulled the visitors apart with a superb opening period showing that saw them put three past the keeper in just over twenty minutes.

This left the home team in a commanding position and had Manchester United all at sea. In advance of this fixture, the away side had let in just few in this WSL season but they fell apart in the face of Manchester City's attacking flair.

Initial Opportunities

The warning signs came quickly when Miedema used her physicality to bundle Julia Zigiotti off the ball, only to drag her shot wide. Lauren Hemp was at the core of everything from the start, taking advantage of the space left by Jayde Riviere down United’s right flank. Her crosses were causing problems and led to an attempt for Yui Hasegawa that Anna Sandberg cleared off the line.

United had multiple forays forwards, their direct style giving them alternatives in the flanks but they could not challenge the City goalkeeper. City, in the meantime, dominated possession, taunting their rivals and trying to lure them of their structure.

Scoring Spree

They made their pressure count with almost half an hour played when Aoba Fujino won the home team a set-piece. A delivery to the back post was directed across goal by Bunny Shaw for Rebecca Knaak to head in. It was City’s seventh header of the term.

They extended their lead with another pair of goals just before the break. When Rose was able to drive through the center from the back, the field opened up for the hosts. The prominent Casparij collected the pass on the right before providing a pinpoint low cross for Shaw to bundle home. Shortly later, they had a third goal after a rapid turnover in the ball saw Lauren Hemp given the space to fire a effort home from distance.

Final Period

The most obvious change came from the United manager at the half-time as Melvine Malard came on for Terland but by this time it was ineffective to change the course of the contest. Ex- City player Jess Park came most likely to score, rattling the post, but the visitors were lacking in ideas and were unable to produce a solitary shot on goal.

The hosts, meanwhile, could have extended their lead when a delightful Vivianne Miedema through ball sent Shaw away only for her to fluff her lines but it did not affect the result to the winning team. Previously unable to overcome any opponent who placed above them last season, the manager's side now have successes against Arsenal and United to position them in a commanding situation after nine games.