🔗 Share this article

Just as the recent storm tore through the northern region the night before, Manchester City blew Manchester United away at the Etihad. It was a statement three goal victory for their manager's side owing to goals from Knaak, Bunny Shaw and Lauren Hemp. It was a performance that truly announced their leadership claims as they strengthened their place at the league summit.

Back-to-Back Losses for United

This scoreline marked consecutive Women's Super League losses for Marc Skinner’s side for the maiden instance since last May, leaving them a significant margin off the table toppers with their trophy ambitions hanging by a thread.

The Red Devils' ability to juggle domestic and European soccer with a small roster has been a widely debated subject since they qualified for the Champions League. Looking at the schedule, it always seemed this was the matchday that would seriously challenge this fortitude. Unfortunately for the away side, they seemed tired throughout, the historic win against PSG clearly having left its mark.

Team Changes

Marc Skinner had tried to freshen things up with a several alterations. Toone, Terland, Dominique Janssen and Galton all added vigor, although the omission of the high-performing Melvine Malard to the bench caused surprise.

City, in contrast, have no such loading concerns. The City coach made one adjustment from last week’s win over Everton with Hemp making her return to the lineup since healing from injury.

Overpowering Start

The storm clouds started to accumulate for the United boss and his side from the kickoff. This was a exhibition of the strength from Manchester City whose energetic forward line played with and dismantled the opposition with a sublime opening period showing that saw them net a trio in 21 minutes.

This left the home team in a commanding position and had Manchester United all at sea. Prior to this encounter, the away side had conceded just a handful in this domestic competition but they fell apart in the face of City’s offensive ingenuity.

Early Chances

The warning signs came quickly when Vivianne Miedema used her physicality to muscle Julia Zigiotti off the ball, only to send her shot off target. Hemp was at the heart of everything from the start, taking advantage of the space left by Riviere down the visitors' right side. Her passes were posing a threat and led to an opportunity for Yui Hasegawa that Anna Sandberg scrambled off the line.

The Red Devils had a number of attacks forwards, their direct style giving them options in the flanks but they could not trouble Yamashita. City, on the other hand, dominated the ball, probing their rivals and trying to draw them out of their organization.

Triple Strike

They turned chances into goals with almost thirty minutes played when Fujino won the home team a set-piece. A delivery to the back post was nodded across goal by Shaw for Knaak to score. It was City’s seventh headed goal of the term.

They increased their cushion with an additional two goals just before the interval. When Rose was allowed to drive through the center from central defence, the pitch became spacious for the hosts. The prominent Casparij picked the ball up on the right before delivering a accurate ground pass for Shaw to bundle home. A short time later, they had a third goal after a swift change in possession saw Lauren Hemp allowed the space to fire a attempt home from outside the box.

Second Half

The clearest substitution came from Skinner at the break as Malard entered for Terland but by this time it was too late to change the course of the game. Ex- Manchester City player Park came closest, rattling the woodwork, but the away team were offensively poor and did not manage to register a one shot on target.

The hosts, meanwhile, could have increased their cushion when a excellent Miedema through ball sent Shaw away only for her to fluff her lines but it was insignificant to the winning team. Previously unable to defeat any side who finished above them in the prior term, the manager's side now have wins against Arsenal and United to position them in a strong situation after the opening fixtures.