🔗 Share this article

Just as Storm Claudia swept through the north-west the prior day, Manchester City blew the visitors aside at the Etihad Stadium. It was a emphatic three-nil triumph for the City coach's side owing to goals from Knaak, Shaw and Hemp. It was a performance that clearly signaled their title credentials as they consolidated their position at the top of the table.

Consecutive Defeats for Manchester United

This result signalled consecutive WSL defeats for Skinner's side for the maiden instance since last May, putting them seven points off the top team with their title hopes hanging by a thread.

Manchester United's capacity to manage league and European football with a limited squad has been a widely debated issue since they secured entry to the Champions League. Reviewing the calendar, it always seemed this was the matchday that would seriously challenge this fortitude. Sadly for the away side, they appeared tired all game, the memorable win against Paris Saint-Germain clearly having left its mark.

Lineup Adjustments

The United manager had attempted to freshen things up with a a few adjustments. Toone, Elisabeth Terland, Dominique Janssen and Galton all provided vigor, although the exclusion of the on-form Melvine Malard to the substitutes raised a few eyebrows.

The hosts, in comparison, have no such workload concerns. Andrée Jeglertz made a single alteration from their most recent win over the Toffees with Hemp making her initial starting appearance since recovering from a physical setback.

Commanding Opening Period

The storm clouds started to accumulate for Skinner and his side from the kickoff. This was a exhibition of the quality from City whose dynamic attack played with and tore United open with a sublime first half display that saw them net a trio in 21 minutes.

This left the home team firmly in control and left United struggling. Prior to this fixture, United had conceded just few in this league campaign but they disintegrated in the wake of the hosts' creative prowess.

Early Chances

The warning signs came early when Vivianne Miedema used her power to bundle Julia Zigiotti off the ball, only to send her shot off target. Hemp was at the core of everything from the start, exploiting the gap left by Riviere down United’s wing. Her passes were creating danger and led to an chance for Yui Hasegawa that Sandberg kicked off the line.

United had several forays forward, their straightforward approach giving them alternatives in the wings but they could not challenge Ayaka Yamashita. Manchester City, meanwhile, controlled the ball, taunting their opponents and trying to lure them of their structure.

Scoring Spree

They converted their dominance with almost the first period played when Fujino won the home team a set-piece. A delivery to the far post was nodded across goal by Shaw for Rebecca Knaak to nod home. It was Manchester City's seventh header of the term.

They extended their cushion with an additional two goals just before the half-time. When Jade Rose was permitted to drive through the middle from central defence, the play widened for the hosts. The influential Kerstin Casparij picked the ball up on the right side before providing a precise driven ball for Shaw to tap home. A short time later, they had a third after a quick change in possession saw Hemp afforded the space to fire a shot home from distance.

Second Half

The most obvious substitution came from the United manager at the interval as Melvine Malard came on for Terland but by this time it was ineffective to change the course of the game. Former City player Jess Park came most likely to score, rattling the woodwork, but the visitors were creatively abject and did not manage to record a single shot on target.

The hosts, on the other hand, could have increased their lead when a excellent Miedema through ball sent Shaw away only for her to fluff her lines but it was insignificant to the winning team. After failing to overcome any opponent who placed above them in the prior term, Jeglertz’s side now have victories against the Gunners and United to put them in a commanding position after the opening fixtures.