🔗 Share this article

Just as bad weather tore through the north-west the previous evening, Manchester City blew United aside at the Etihad. It was a statement three-nil triumph for the City coach's side thanks to goals from Rebecca Knaak, Shaw and Hemp. It was a display that clearly signaled their leadership claims as they consolidated their position at the WSL pinnacle.

Consecutive Setbacks for Manchester United

This scoreline marked successive WSL setbacks for Skinner's side for the initial occasion since last May, putting them seven points off the table toppers with their trophy ambitions severely dented.

The Red Devils' capability to manage domestic and continental football with a limited squad has been a widely debated issue since they qualified for the Champions League. Looking at the schedule, it always appeared this was the period that would truly test this fortitude. Unfortunately for the opposition, they looked weary from start to finish, the memorable win against PSG clearly having left its mark.

Tactical Shifts

Skinner had attempted to rotate the squad with a several alterations. Toone, Terland, Janssen and Galton all provided freshness, although the omission of the in-form Malard to the sidelines caused surprise.

City, in opposition, have fewer loading issues. Andrée Jeglertz made one adjustment from last week’s win over the Toffees with Lauren Hemp making her initial starting appearance since recovering from injury.

Overpowering Start

The pressure started to gather for the United boss and his side from the opening minute. This was a show of the power from Manchester City whose energetic attack played with and tore United open with a sublime first half performance that saw them put three past the keeper in 21 minutes.

This put the hosts firmly in control and had Manchester United disorganized. In advance of this encounter, the away side had allowed just few in this WSL season but they disintegrated in the face of City’s attacking flair.

Opening Threats

The omens 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 heart of everything in the beginning, taking advantage of the gap left by Riviere down the visitors' right flank. Her passes were causing problems and led to an opportunity for Yui Hasegawa that Anna Sandberg scrambled off the line.

The Red Devils had multiple sorties ahead, their straightforward approach giving them alternatives in the wide areas but they could not trouble Yamashita. City, in the meantime, commanded the ball, probing their opponents and trying to draw them out of their structure.

Triple Strike

They turned chances into goals with almost the first period played when Aoba Fujino won the home team a set-piece. A cross to the far post was nodded across goal by Shaw for Rebecca Knaak to head in. It was City’s seventh headed goal of the campaign.

They increased their advantage with another pair of goals just before the half-time. When Rose was permitted to advance through the midfield from central defence, the field opened up for the hosts. The key Casparij collected the pass on the right side before sending a pinpoint low cross for Bunny Shaw to force home. Shortly later, they had a additional score after a swift change in possession saw Hemp given the room to drive a shot home from range.

Final Period

The most obvious substitution came from the United manager at the half-time as Malard was introduced for Terland but by this time it was too late to alter the outcome of the game. Former Manchester City player Park came most likely to score, hitting the post, but the visitors were creatively abject and were unable to register a solitary shot on target.

The home side, meanwhile, could have extended their advantage when a superb Vivianne Miedema pass sent Bunny Shaw away only for her to fluff her lines but it mattered little to the hosts. After failing to overcome any opponent who finished above them last season, City's side now have victories against Arsenal and United to place them in a strong standing after the opening fixtures.