Manchester City 3-0 The Red Devils: Hemp scores in City stroll.

Much like bad weather swept through the north-west the previous evening, the home side swept the visitors away at the Etihad. It was a emphatic 3-0 win for the City coach's side owing to goals from Rebecca Knaak, Shaw and Lauren Hemp. It was a performance that clearly signaled their leadership claims as they consolidated their standing at the league summit.

Back-to-Back Losses for Manchester United

This outcome marked consecutive Women's Super League setbacks for Marc Skinner’s side for the initial occasion since last May, placing them a significant margin off the top team with their title hopes in serious doubt.

The Red Devils' ability to balance domestic and continental soccer with a limited roster has been a widely debated subject 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 fortitude. Sadly for the away side, they seemed fatigued throughout, the memorable win against Paris Saint-Germain clearly having left its mark.

Team Changes

Marc Skinner had tried to freshen things up with a several alterations. Ella Toone, Elisabeth Terland, Dominique Janssen and Galton all provided energy, although the omission of the high-performing Malard to the sidelines was questioned.

City, in opposition, have no similar fitness worries. Jeglertz made a single alteration from the previous win over the Toffees with Lauren Hemp making her return to the lineup since returning from a physical setback.

Dominant First Half

The pressure started to accumulate for Skinner and his side from the kickoff. This was a show of the quality from City whose potent offense controlled and dismantled the opposition with a sublime opening period display that saw them net a trio in just over twenty minutes.

This left the home team completely dominant and saw the visitors struggling. Before this match, United had let in just six in this league campaign but they collapsed in the presence of the hosts' attacking flair.

Early Chances

The warning signs came soon when Vivianne Miedema used her power to push Zigiotti off the ball, only to send her shot past the post. Hemp was at the core of everything from the start, using the gap left by Jayde Riviere down the visitors' right side. Her deliveries were creating danger and led to an opportunity for Hasegawa that Sandberg cleared off the line.

United had several attacks forward, their straightforward approach giving them alternatives in the wings but they could not challenge Yamashita. Manchester City, in the meantime, controlled possession, taunting their rivals and trying to pull them out of their organization.

Triple Strike

They converted their dominance with almost half an hour played when Fujino won the hosts a set-piece. A delivery to the back post was nodded across goal by Bunny Shaw for Knaak to head in. It was Manchester City's 7th headed goal of the term.

They extended their lead with an additional two goals just before the half-time. When Rose was able to drive through the midfield from the back, the play widened for the hosts. The key Casparij picked the ball up on the wing before providing a precise driven ball for Shaw to tap home. Four minutes later, they had a third goal after a swift turnover in possession saw Hemp given the space to strike a attempt home from outside the box.

Final Period

The clearest substitution came from the United manager at the half-time as Malard entered for Elisabeth Terland but by this time it was ineffective to change the course of the match. Former Manchester City player Jess Park came closest, rattling the woodwork, but the away team were offensively poor and were unable to produce a single shot on goal.

The hosts, on the other hand, could have added to their lead when a delightful Vivianne Miedema long ball sent Bunny Shaw away only for her to fail to convert but it did not affect the result to the hosts. Previously unable to overcome any opponent who finished above them in the prior term, City's side now have victories against Arsenal and United to place them in a strong situation after nine games.