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Just as the recent storm hit the north-west the previous evening, Manchester City overwhelmed Manchester United aside at the Etihad Stadium. It was a convincing 3-0 victory for the City coach's side owing to goals from Knaak, Shaw and Hemp. It was a display that truly announced their leadership claims as they consolidated their place at the WSL pinnacle.

Consecutive Setbacks for Manchester United

This scoreline signalled back-to-back WSL setbacks for the United manager's side for the first time since last May, putting them seven points off the league leaders with their title hopes in serious doubt.

United’s capability to manage domestic and European soccer with a small team has been a frequently analyzed subject since they secured entry to the Champions League. Considering the schedule, it always seemed this was the matchday that would seriously challenge this capability. Unfortunately for the away side, they seemed fatigued from start to finish, the historic win against Paris Saint-Germain clearly having left its mark.

Team Changes

The United manager had tried to freshen things up with a several changes. Toone, Elisabeth Terland, Dominique Janssen and Galton all added freshness, although the omission of the high-performing Melvine Malard to the substitutes caused surprise.

Manchester City, in contrast, have fewer loading worries. Jeglertz made one change from their most recent win over the Toffees with Lauren Hemp making her return to the lineup since healing from a physical setback.

Overpowering Start

The storm clouds started to build for Skinner and his squad from the first whistle. This was a exhibition of the power from City whose dynamic offense controlled and tore United open with a excellent first half performance that saw them put three past the keeper in under half an hour.

This put the hosts in a commanding position and had Manchester United disorganized. Before this encounter, the away side had allowed just a handful in this league campaign but they disintegrated in the wake of City’s offensive ingenuity.

Early Chances

The early indicators came quickly when Vivianne Miedema used her physicality to push Zigiotti off the ball, only to drag her shot wide. Hemp was at the heart of everything in the beginning, taking advantage of the gap left by Jayde Riviere down United’s wing. Her deliveries were posing a threat and led to an chance for Yui Hasegawa that Sandberg kicked off the line.

The Red Devils had several sorties ahead, their long-ball tactic giving them alternatives in the wide areas but they could not test Yamashita. City, on the other hand, dominated possession, taunting their opponents and trying to lure them of their structure.

Scoring Spree

They made their pressure count with almost half an hour played when Aoba Fujino won the home team a corner. A delivery to the far post was directed across goal by Shaw for Rebecca Knaak to head in. It was City’s seventh headed goal of the term.

They extended their advantage with an additional two goals just before the interval. When Jade Rose was able to maraud through the center from central defence, the field became spacious for the hosts. The key Kerstin Casparij picked the ball up on the right side before providing a pinpoint ground pass for Bunny Shaw to force home. Four minutes later, they had a additional score after a rapid change in possession saw Lauren Hemp afforded the opportunity to drive a attempt home from range.

After the Break

The most obvious adjustment came from Skinner at the interval as Melvine Malard came on for Terland but by this time it was ineffective to alter the outcome of the match. Ex- Manchester City player Park came nearest, rattling the upright, but the visitors were creatively abject and failed to produce a solitary shot on target.

The hosts, in contrast, could have added to their advantage when a superb Miedema long ball sent Bunny Shaw away only for her to miss the chance but it did not affect the result to the hosts. Having failed to overcome any side who finished above them in the prior term, City's side now have victories against the Gunners and Manchester United to place them in a strong position after the opening fixtures.