🔗 Share this article

Just as the recent storm tore through the north-west the prior day, Manchester City blew United away at the their home ground. It was a convincing three-nil triumph for their manager's side thanks to goals from Rebecca Knaak, Shaw and Hemp. It was a display that firmly established their championship potential as they strengthened their standing at the league summit.

Successive Setbacks for Manchester United

This scoreline marked consecutive league defeats for Skinner's side for the maiden instance since last May, placing them a significant margin off the league leaders with their trophy ambitions hanging by a thread.

The Red Devils' capability to juggle domestic and European soccer with a limited squad has been a hotly discussed subject since they secured entry to the Champions League. Reviewing the fixture list, it always appeared this was the period that would fully examine this ability. Regrettably for the opposition, they appeared weary all game, the memorable win against the French side clearly having taken a toll.

Team Changes

The United manager had attempted to rotate the squad with a handful of alterations. Toone, Elisabeth Terland, Janssen and Leah Galton all provided energy, although the exclusion of the in-form Melvine Malard to the sidelines caused surprise.

Manchester City, in contrast, have no such fitness concerns. The City coach made one adjustment from last week’s win over Everton with Lauren Hemp making her first start since recovering from a physical setback.

Dominant First Half

The storm clouds started to build for Skinner and his team from the first whistle. This was a show of the power from Manchester City whose dynamic forward line manipulated and tore United open with a excellent first half display that saw them score three goals in 21 minutes.

This left the home team completely dominant and left United struggling. Before this encounter, United had let in just a handful in this WSL season but they collapsed in the presence of City’s offensive ingenuity.

Opening Threats

The early indicators came quickly when Vivianne Miedema used her power to bundle Zigiotti off the ball, only to send her shot off target. Hemp was at the core of everything from the start, using the gap left by Riviere down United’s right flank. Her passes were causing problems and led to an attempt for Yui Hasegawa that Sandberg scrambled off the line.

United had multiple forays forwards, their direct style giving them options in the wide areas but they could not challenge Yamashita. Manchester City, meanwhile, controlled possession, taunting their opponents and trying to lure them of their defensive shape.

Scoring Spree

They turned chances into goals with almost half an hour played when Fujino won the hosts a set-piece. A ball to the far post was directed across goal by Bunny Shaw for Rebecca Knaak to nod home. It was City’s 7th goal from a cross of the term.

They extended their cushion with two more goals just before the break. When Jade Rose was able to drive through the center from the back, the play widened for the hosts. The influential Kerstin Casparij picked the ball up on the right side before providing a precise driven ball for Bunny Shaw to tap home. Shortly later, they had a additional score after a quick turnover in the ball saw Hemp given the room to fire a shot home from range.

Final Period

The clearest change came from Skinner at the break as Malard entered for Terland but by this time it was futile to change the course of the contest. Former City player Jess Park came closest, striking the post, but the visitors were offensively poor and failed to produce a one shot on goal.

The home side, on the other hand, could have extended their advantage when a excellent Miedema pass sent Shaw away only for her to fail to convert but it mattered little to the winning team. Having failed to defeat any team who placed above them in the prior term, Jeglertz’s side now have victories against Arsenal and United to position them in a strong position after the opening fixtures.