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Much like the recent storm tore through the northwest the previous evening, City swept Manchester United aside at the Etihad Stadium. It was a statement three-nil triumph for Andrée Jeglertz’s side thanks to goals from Knaak, Shaw and Hemp. It was a display that clearly signaled their leadership claims as they reinforced their position at the league summit.

Successive Setbacks for Manchester United

This outcome signalled back-to-back Women's Super League defeats for Marc Skinner’s side for the maiden instance since last May, placing them a sizable gap off the table toppers with their championship aspirations hanging by a thread.

Manchester United's capability to juggle league and European soccer with a thin team has been a hotly discussed subject since they qualified for the UCL. Looking at the schedule, it always felt like this was the matchday that would truly test this ability. Regrettably for the opposition, they seemed fatigued from start to finish, the memorable win against PSG clearly having taken a toll.

Tactical Shifts

The United manager had attempted to freshen things up with a a few alterations. Toone, Elisabeth Terland, Dominique Janssen and Galton all provided freshness, although the exclusion of the high-performing Malard to the sidelines raised a few eyebrows.

The hosts, in comparison, have fewer loading concerns. The City coach made one adjustment from last week’s win over Everton with Lauren Hemp making her initial starting appearance since healing from a fitness issue.

Overpowering Start

The pressure started to accumulate for the United boss and his squad from the opening minute. This was a exhibition of the quality from Manchester City whose dynamic attack played with and dismantled the opposition with a excellent opening period performance that saw them put three past the keeper in just over twenty minutes.

This left the home team completely dominant and saw the visitors disorganized. Prior to this encounter, United had let in just a handful in this WSL season but they fell apart in the wake of City’s attacking flair.

Early Chances

The warning signs came early when Vivianne Miedema used her physicality to push Julia Zigiotti off the ball, only to drag her shot past the post. Hemp was at the heart of everything from the start, using the room left by Riviere down United’s right side. Her passes were posing a threat and led to an chance for Hasegawa that Anna Sandberg cleared off the line.

The Red Devils had multiple attacks ahead, their straightforward approach giving them alternatives in the wings but they could not trouble Yamashita. Manchester City, in the meantime, commanded possession, taunting their opposition and trying to lure them of their organization.

Goals Galore

They turned chances into goals with almost half an hour played when Fujino won the home team a set-piece. A delivery to the far post was headed across goal by Shaw for Rebecca Knaak to head in. It was City’s seventh headed goal of the campaign.

They increased their lead with two more goals just before the break. When Jade Rose was permitted to drive through the middle from defense, the pitch opened up for City. The prominent Casparij picked the ball up on the wing before providing a accurate low cross for Shaw to bundle home. Four minutes later, they had a third after a rapid change in the ball saw Hemp given the opportunity to fire a effort home from range.

After the Break

The primary substitution came from the United manager at the half-time as Malard was introduced for Terland but by this time it was too late to shift the momentum of the match. Former City player Park came most likely to score, striking the woodwork, but the away team were creatively abject and did not manage to produce a solitary shot on target.

The home side, meanwhile, could have extended their advantage when a delightful Vivianne Miedema pass sent Shaw away only for her to fluff her lines but it was insignificant to the hosts. Previously unable to beat any opponent who placed above them last season, the manager's side now have successes against the Gunners and United to place them in a strong position after the opening fixtures.