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Similar to bad weather tore through the north-west the prior day, Manchester City overwhelmed United away at the Etihad Stadium. It was a statement three goal victory for Andrée Jeglertz’s side due to goals from Rebecca Knaak, Bunny Shaw and Lauren Hemp. It was a performance that truly announced their title credentials as they strengthened their position at the WSL pinnacle.

Back-to-Back Losses for Manchester United

This scoreline signalled back-to-back Women's Super League defeats for Marc Skinner’s side for the initial occasion since last May, leaving them seven points off the top team with their championship aspirations in serious doubt.

The Red Devils' capacity to manage league and continental football with a limited squad has been a widely debated issue since they qualified for the European competition. Looking at the calendar, it always appeared this was the period that would seriously challenge this ability. Unfortunately for the visitors, they seemed tired throughout, the historic win against Paris Saint-Germain clearly having taken a toll.

Tactical Shifts

Marc Skinner had tried to rotate the squad with a a few alterations. Ella Toone, Terland, Dominique Janssen and Galton all provided freshness, although the omission of the in-form Malard to the bench caused surprise.

The hosts, in contrast, have no similar fitness concerns. Andrée Jeglertz made a single alteration from their most recent win over Everton with Hemp making her first start since recovering from injury.

Commanding Opening Period

The trouble started to accumulate for Skinner and his side from the first whistle. This was a demonstration of the quality from City whose dynamic forward line played with and tore United open with a superb initial 45 minutes performance that saw them put three past the keeper in just over twenty minutes.

This put the hosts firmly in control and saw the visitors struggling. Prior to this fixture, United had allowed just a handful in this league campaign but they disintegrated in the face of the hosts' offensive ingenuity.

Early Chances

The early indicators came early when Vivianne Miedema used her strength to push Zigiotti off the ball, only to drag her shot off target. Hemp was at the center of everything from the start, exploiting the gap left by Riviere down the visitors' wing. Her deliveries were creating danger and led to an attempt for Hasegawa that Anna Sandberg kicked off the line.

United had several forays forwards, their direct style giving them options in the flanks but they could not test the City goalkeeper. City, meanwhile, controlled the ball, teasing their opposition and trying to draw them out of their organization.

Goals Galore

They made their pressure count with almost the first period played when Fujino won the hosts a corner. A cross to the far post was headed across goal by Bunny Shaw for Knaak to nod home. It was City’s seventh goal from a cross of the term.

They increased their cushion with another pair of goals just before the half-time. When Rose was able to drive through the middle from central defence, the field widened for the hosts. The key Kerstin Casparij received possession on the right side before providing a accurate driven ball for Shaw to tap home. A short time later, they had a third goal after a swift turnover in possession saw Hemp allowed the room to fire a shot home from distance.

Second Half

The primary substitution came from Skinner 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 most likely to score, hitting the woodwork, but the visitors were creatively abject and were unable to register a single shot on target.

The home side, on the other hand, could have increased their advantage when a superb Miedema through ball sent Bunny Shaw away only for her to miss the chance but it did not affect the result to the hosts. Previously unable to overcome any side who finished above them in the prior term, Jeglertz’s side now have wins against Arsenal and United to position them in a strong situation after the opening fixtures.