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Similar to Storm Claudia tore through the northwest the previous evening, Manchester City swept Manchester United away at the their home ground. It was a statement three goal win for their manager's side owing to goals from Knaak, Bunny Shaw and Hemp. It was a display that firmly established their leadership claims as they consolidated their position at the top of the table.

Consecutive Defeats for Manchester United

This scoreline represented consecutive Women's Super League defeats for Marc Skinner’s side for the maiden instance since last May, putting them a sizable gap off the league leaders with their trophy ambitions hanging by a thread.

The Red Devils' capability to manage league and continental soccer with a small roster has been a widely debated topic since they qualified for the European competition. Considering the fixture list, it always felt like this was the matchday that would truly test this capability. Sadly for the away side, they appeared tired throughout, the historic win against PSG clearly having had an impact.

Lineup Adjustments

The United manager had attempted to freshen things up with a a few alterations. Toone, Terland, Dominique Janssen and Leah Galton all brought vigor, although the dropping of the high-performing Melvine Malard to the bench raised a few eyebrows.

Manchester City, in opposition, have no similar fitness issues. The City coach made a single alteration from last week’s win over Everton with Hemp making her first start since healing from injury.

Overpowering Start

The trouble started to build for the United boss and his squad from the kickoff. This was a exhibition of the quality from Manchester City whose dynamic offense manipulated and pulled the visitors apart with a excellent first half display that saw them score three goals in 21 minutes.

This put the hosts completely dominant and saw the visitors all at sea. Prior to this encounter, the away side had conceded just six in this domestic competition but they fell apart in the face of City’s offensive ingenuity.

Initial Opportunities

The warning signs came soon when Vivianne Miedema used her power to muscle Zigiotti off the ball, only to pull her shot wide. Hemp was at the heart of everything from the start, using the room left by Jayde Riviere down the visitors' wing. Her passes were creating danger and led to an attempt for Hasegawa that Sandberg scrambled off the line.

The Red Devils had several sorties ahead, their direct style giving them alternatives in the flanks but they could not test the City goalkeeper. City, meanwhile, controlled the ball, probing their opposition and trying to lure them of their organization.

Triple Strike

They made their pressure count with almost half an hour played when Aoba Fujino won the hosts a set-piece. A delivery to the back post was directed across goal by Shaw for Rebecca Knaak to score. It was City’s 7th goal from a cross of the campaign.

They increased their advantage with two more goals just before the break. When Rose was allowed to advance through the middle from central defence, the field opened up for City. The influential Kerstin Casparij picked the ball up on the right before sending a accurate low cross for Bunny Shaw to force home. Shortly later, they had a third goal after a rapid shift in possession saw Lauren Hemp allowed the room to drive a effort home from range.

Second Half

The most obvious change came from the United manager at the break as Malard was introduced for Elisabeth Terland but by this time it was futile to change the course of the match. Former City player Jess Park came closest, striking the woodwork, but the visitors were creatively abject and failed to register a solitary shot on goal.

The home side, in contrast, could have added to their cushion when a superb Miedema through ball sent Bunny Shaw away only for her to miss the chance but it mattered little to the winning team. Previously unable to overcome any side who placed above them in the prior term, Jeglertz’s side now have wins against Arsenal and Manchester United to place them in a strong position after nine matches.