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Much like the recent storm swept through the north-west the night before, Manchester City overwhelmed United away at the Etihad Stadium. It was a convincing three-nil win for the City coach's side thanks to goals from Knaak, Shaw and Hemp. It was a display that clearly signaled their title credentials as they consolidated their standing at the WSL pinnacle.

Back-to-Back Setbacks for Manchester United

This scoreline represented back-to-back WSL losses for Marc Skinner’s side for the initial occasion since last May, leaving them seven points off the top team with their title hopes in serious doubt.

United’s ability to juggle league and European soccer with a small team has been a hotly discussed subject since they qualified for the Champions League. Looking at the schedule, it always seemed this was the matchday that would fully examine this fortitude. Sadly for the opposition, they seemed weary throughout, the landmark win against Paris Saint-Germain clearly having taken a toll.

Team Changes

Skinner had sought to freshen things up with a several adjustments. Ella Toone, Elisabeth Terland, Dominique Janssen and Leah Galton all provided energy, although the exclusion of the high-performing Melvine Malard to the sidelines raised a few eyebrows.

The hosts, in comparison, have no such fitness issues. The City coach made a single alteration from last week’s win over Everton with Hemp making her return to the lineup since healing from injury.

Commanding Opening Period

The storm clouds started to build for the United boss and his squad from the kickoff. This was a demonstration of the quality from City whose energetic offense controlled and pulled the visitors apart with a superb initial 45 minutes performance that saw them put three past the keeper in under half an hour.

This left the home team firmly in control and left United disorganized. In advance of this encounter, the away side had allowed just few in this WSL season but they collapsed in the presence of City’s offensive ingenuity.

Opening Threats

The early indicators came quickly when Vivianne Miedema used her strength to bundle Zigiotti off the ball, only to send her shot past the post. Hemp was at the core of everything early on, exploiting the room left by Riviere down United’s right side. Her passes were posing a threat and led to an attempt for Hasegawa that Sandberg cleared off the line.

The Red Devils had several sorties forwards, their long-ball tactic giving them options in the wings but they could not challenge the City goalkeeper. Manchester City, on the other hand, commanded the ball, taunting their opposition and trying to pull them out of their defensive shape.

Triple Strike

They turned chances into goals with almost half an hour played when Aoba Fujino won the hosts a corner. A ball to the far post was headed across goal by Shaw for Rebecca Knaak to score. It was City’s 7th headed goal of the term.

They extended their cushion with another pair of goals just before the interval. When Jade Rose was permitted to drive through the midfield from the back, the play opened up for City. The key Kerstin Casparij collected the pass on the right before delivering a accurate low cross for Bunny Shaw to bundle home. Shortly later, they had a third goal after a quick shift in possession saw Lauren Hemp allowed the space to drive a attempt home from range.

Final Period

The clearest adjustment came from the United manager at the interval as Melvine Malard came on for Elisabeth Terland but by this time it was ineffective to alter the outcome of the match. Former Manchester City player Park came nearest, hitting the woodwork, but the away team were lacking in ideas and failed to record a solitary shot on goal.

The home side, in contrast, could have extended their advantage when a excellent Vivianne Miedema long ball sent Shaw away only for her to fluff her lines but it did not affect the result to the hosts. After failing to beat any team who finished above them the previous campaign, City's side now have successes against Arsenal and United to put them in a favorable standing after nine games.