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Much like bad weather hit the northwest the night before, the home side swept Manchester United away at the Etihad Stadium. It was a convincing 3-0 victory for the City coach's side due to goals from Rebecca Knaak, Bunny Shaw and Lauren Hemp. It was a performance that clearly signaled their championship potential as they strengthened their standing at the top of the table.

Successive Losses for Manchester United

This scoreline signalled back-to-back WSL losses for Marc Skinner’s side for the initial occasion since last May, putting them seven points off the table toppers with their trophy ambitions in serious doubt.

The Red Devils' ability to balance domestic and continental soccer with a limited roster has been a hotly discussed issue since they secured entry to the European competition. Looking at the fixture list, it always seemed this was the period that would fully examine this ability. Unfortunately for the visitors, they seemed tired throughout, the memorable win against the French side clearly having taken a toll.

Tactical Shifts

The United manager had sought to rotate the squad with a handful of adjustments. Toone, Terland, Janssen and Galton all added vigor, although the exclusion of the on-form Malard to the sidelines caused surprise.

Manchester City, in contrast, have no such fitness worries. Andrée Jeglertz made one adjustment from their most recent win over the Toffees with Lauren Hemp making her initial starting appearance since returning from a physical setback.

Overpowering Start

The trouble started to build for the United boss and his team from the opening minute. This was a show of the power from Manchester City whose dynamic attack manipulated and dismantled the opposition with a superb initial 45 minutes performance that saw them score three goals in 21 minutes.

This placed City completely dominant and saw the visitors struggling. Before this fixture, United had allowed just six in this league campaign but they disintegrated in the face of City’s attacking flair.

Initial Opportunities

The early indicators came early when Vivianne Miedema used her physicality to push Julia Zigiotti off the ball, only to drag her shot wide. Hemp was at the core of everything from the start, exploiting the room left by Jayde Riviere down United’s right flank. Her crosses were creating danger and led to an opportunity for Yui Hasegawa that Anna Sandberg scrambled off the line.

United had multiple sorties forwards, their straightforward approach giving them options in the flanks but they could not challenge Ayaka Yamashita. City, on the other hand, dominated possession, probing their rivals and trying to draw them out of their defensive shape.

Goals Galore

They made their pressure count with almost thirty minutes played when Aoba Fujino won the hosts a corner. A cross to the far post was directed across goal by Shaw for Rebecca Knaak to nod home. It was Manchester City's 7th headed goal of the campaign.

They increased their advantage with an additional two goals just before the break. When Rose was allowed to drive through the center from the back, the play widened for City. The influential Casparij collected the pass on the right side before delivering a pinpoint driven ball for Bunny Shaw to force home. Four minutes later, they had a third after a rapid shift in possession saw Lauren Hemp given the room to strike a shot home from range.

After the Break

The primary substitution came from the United manager at the half-time as Melvine Malard came on for Elisabeth Terland but by this time it was futile to alter the outcome of the game. Ex- Manchester 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 solitary shot on goal.

The hosts, meanwhile, could have increased their advantage when a excellent Vivianne Miedema pass sent Shaw away only for her to fail to convert but it did not affect the result to the winning team. Previously unable to defeat any side who ended above them in the prior term, the manager's side now have successes against Arsenal and United to put them in a favorable situation after the opening fixtures.