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Much like the recent storm swept through the northwest the previous evening, Manchester City overwhelmed United aside at the their home ground. It was a statement three goal triumph for the City coach's side thanks to goals from Knaak, Bunny Shaw and Hemp. It was a performance that truly announced their title credentials as they consolidated their standing at the league summit.

Consecutive Defeats for Manchester United

This scoreline represented consecutive Women's Super League defeats for Skinner's side for the first time since last May, putting them a significant margin off the table toppers with their trophy ambitions severely dented.

Manchester United's capacity to balance league and continental football with a thin team has been a widely debated subject since they earned a place in the European competition. Reviewing the schedule, it always felt like this was the week that would seriously challenge this capability. Unfortunately for the opposition, they appeared tired all game, the memorable win against the French side clearly having taken a toll.

Tactical Shifts

Marc Skinner had attempted to rotate the squad with a a few alterations. Toone, Terland, Dominique Janssen and Galton all provided freshness, although the omission of the high-performing Malard to the bench was questioned.

Manchester City, in contrast, have no similar loading issues. Jeglertz made one adjustment from their most recent win over Everton with Hemp making her initial starting appearance since healing from a fitness issue.

Commanding Opening Period

The pressure started to build for Skinner and his side from the opening minute. This was a show of the power from Manchester City whose energetic offense controlled and pulled the visitors apart with a excellent opening period showing that saw them net a trio in just over twenty minutes.

This left the home team completely dominant and had Manchester United all at sea. Before this fixture, the away side had allowed just six in this domestic competition but they disintegrated in the presence of City’s creative prowess.

Opening Threats

The early indicators came quickly when Miedema used her strength to push Zigiotti off the ball, only to pull her shot wide. Lauren Hemp was at the heart of everything in the beginning, exploiting the gap left by Riviere down United’s wing. Her crosses were causing problems and led to an opportunity for Hasegawa that Sandberg scrambled off the line.

United had multiple forays forwards, their long-ball tactic giving them choices in the wings but they could not challenge the City goalkeeper. City, in the meantime, dominated the ball, taunting their rivals and trying to draw them out of their organization.

Triple Strike

They made their pressure count with almost half an hour played when Fujino won the home team a set-piece. A ball to the back post was nodded across goal by Bunny Shaw for Knaak to nod home. It was Manchester City's seventh headed goal of the season.

They extended their lead with an additional two goals just before the half-time. When Rose was permitted to drive through the midfield from central defence, the play widened for City. The key Casparij received possession on the wing before providing a precise ground pass for Bunny Shaw to force home. Shortly later, they had a additional score after a rapid turnover in the ball saw Hemp given the opportunity to strike a attempt home from distance.

Second Half

The most obvious change came from Skinner at the break as Malard entered for Elisabeth Terland but by this time it was ineffective to shift the momentum of the game. Former Manchester City player Park came closest, hitting the woodwork, but the away team were creatively abject and failed to register a solitary shot on goal.

The hosts, on the other hand, could have extended their cushion when a excellent Miedema pass sent Bunny Shaw away only for her to fluff her lines but it was insignificant to the winning team. After failing to defeat any team who ended above them last season, the manager's side now have successes against Arsenal and United to put them in a commanding position after the opening fixtures.