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Much like bad weather hit the northern region the previous evening, City swept United away at the Etihad Stadium. It was a statement three goal victory for the City coach's side thanks to goals from Knaak, Shaw and Hemp. It was a display that truly announced their leadership claims as they reinforced their standing at the top of the table.

Back-to-Back Losses for Manchester United

This result signalled back-to-back league defeats for the United manager's side for the initial occasion since last May, putting them a sizable gap off the league leaders with their championship aspirations hanging by a thread.

United’s ability to balance league and continental football with a small team has been a widely debated topic since they secured entry to the UCL. Reviewing the schedule, it always felt like this was the matchday that would truly test this fortitude. Sadly for the visitors, they seemed fatigued all game, the historic win against PSG clearly having taken a toll.

Team Changes

Skinner had attempted to freshen things up with a handful of adjustments. Toone, Elisabeth Terland, Dominique Janssen and Galton all brought freshness, although the exclusion of the high-performing Malard to the bench caused surprise.

City, in comparison, have fewer fitness issues. Andrée Jeglertz made one adjustment from last week’s win over the Toffees with Hemp making her return to the lineup since healing from a fitness issue.

Commanding Opening Period

The storm clouds started to gather for the United boss and his team from the opening minute. This was a exhibition of the strength from Manchester City whose potent offense played with and dismantled the opposition with a sublime opening period performance that saw them put three past the keeper in just over twenty minutes.

This placed City firmly in control and saw the visitors struggling. Prior to this match, United had conceded just a handful in this WSL season but they disintegrated in the wake of the hosts' attacking flair.

Early Chances

The omens came early when Miedema used her physicality to push Zigiotti off the ball, only to send her shot past the post. Lauren Hemp was at the center of everything in the beginning, taking advantage of the gap left by Riviere down the visitors' right side. Her passes were posing a threat and led to an attempt for Yui Hasegawa that Anna Sandberg scrambled off the line.

United had multiple forays ahead, their long-ball tactic giving them options in the wide areas but they could not test Yamashita. City, in the meantime, commanded possession, teasing their opposition and trying to pull them out of their structure.

Triple Strike

They converted their dominance with almost thirty minutes played when Fujino won the hosts a set-piece. A ball to the back post was directed across goal by Bunny Shaw for Rebecca Knaak to nod home. It was Manchester City's seventh goal from a cross of the season.

They increased their lead with an additional two goals just before the half-time. When Jade Rose was allowed to maraud through the center from defense, the pitch widened for the hosts. The key Kerstin Casparij collected the pass on the right side before sending a precise ground pass for Shaw to force home. Shortly later, they had a third after a quick turnover in possession saw Hemp given the room to strike a attempt home from distance.

After the Break

The primary change came from Skinner at the break as Malard entered for Elisabeth Terland but by this time it was futile to change the course of the contest. Former Manchester City player Jess Park came nearest, striking the woodwork, but the visitors were creatively abject and did not manage to register a single shot on target.

The hosts, meanwhile, could have increased their cushion when a excellent Vivianne Miedema long ball sent Shaw away only for her to miss the chance but it did not affect the result to the winning team. After failing to beat any opponent who finished above them last season, City's side now have successes against Arsenal and Manchester United to place them in a favorable position after nine matches.