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Similar to bad weather hit the northern region the night before, Manchester City swept Manchester United away at the their home ground. It was a emphatic 3-0 win for the City coach's side thanks to goals from Knaak, Shaw and Hemp. It was a performance that firmly established their leadership claims as they strengthened their position at the WSL pinnacle.

Back-to-Back Setbacks for United

This scoreline marked successive Women's Super League setbacks for Marc Skinner’s side for the first time since last May, putting them a sizable gap off the league leaders with their title hopes hanging by a thread.

The Red Devils' ability to juggle domestic and European soccer with a thin squad has been a frequently analyzed subject since they secured entry to the UCL. Considering the fixture list, it always felt like this was the matchday that would seriously challenge this ability. Sadly for the away side, they looked weary from start to finish, the memorable win against PSG clearly having left its mark.

Team Changes

The United manager had attempted to rotate the squad with a several adjustments. Ella Toone, Elisabeth Terland, Janssen and Galton all provided energy, although the omission of the on-form Malard to the substitutes caused surprise.

The hosts, in comparison, have no similar workload worries. The City coach made one change from last week’s win over the Toffees with Lauren Hemp making her initial starting appearance since returning from a fitness issue.

Commanding Opening Period

The storm clouds started to build for the United boss and his team from the kickoff. This was a exhibition of the quality from Manchester City whose potent offense controlled and tore United open with a sublime initial 45 minutes showing that saw them net a trio in 21 minutes.

This left the home team in a commanding position and saw the visitors all at sea. Prior to this match, the away side had let in just a handful in this WSL season but they collapsed in the wake of Manchester City's attacking flair.

Opening Threats

The warning signs came soon when Miedema used her strength to bundle Julia Zigiotti off the ball, only to send her shot past the post. Hemp was at the center of everything in the beginning, using the space left by Riviere down the visitors' wing. Her crosses were causing problems and led to an opportunity for Hasegawa that Sandberg cleared off the line.

The Red Devils had multiple forays ahead, their direct style giving them choices in the wide areas but they could not trouble Ayaka Yamashita. City, on the other hand, dominated the ball, taunting their opponents and trying to pull them out of their structure.

Goals Galore

They converted their dominance with almost the first period played when Aoba Fujino won the hosts a set-piece. A delivery to the back post was headed across goal by Shaw for Knaak to head in. It was City’s 7th header of the term.

They added to their lead with two more goals just before the half-time. When Rose was permitted to maraud through the center from the back, the play widened for the hosts. The key Kerstin Casparij picked the ball up on the right before delivering a precise driven ball for Bunny Shaw to force home. A short time later, they had a additional score after a swift shift in possession saw Hemp afforded the room to strike a attempt home from distance.

Second Half

The most obvious substitution came from the United manager at the half-time as Melvine Malard entered for Terland but by this time it was too late to alter the outcome of the contest. Former Manchester City player Jess Park came closest, rattling the upright, but the visitors were lacking in ideas and were unable to produce a single shot on goal.

The hosts, meanwhile, could have extended their advantage when a excellent Miedema through ball sent Bunny Shaw away only for her to fail to convert but it mattered little to the hosts. Previously unable to defeat any opponent who placed above them last season, the manager's side now have victories against the Gunners and United to place them in a commanding standing after the opening fixtures.