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Just as Storm Claudia tore through the northwest the previous evening, Manchester City blew United away at the Etihad. It was a statement three goal triumph for the City coach's side owing to goals from Knaak, Shaw and Lauren Hemp. It was a result that firmly established their title credentials as they reinforced their position at the WSL pinnacle.

Successive Losses for Manchester United

This scoreline signalled consecutive Women's Super League losses for Marc Skinner’s side for the first time since last May, leaving them seven points off the league leaders with their title hopes severely dented.

The Red Devils' capacity to juggle league and continental football with a small roster has been a hotly discussed issue since they secured entry to the European competition. Looking at the calendar, it always appeared this was the matchday that would fully examine this capability. Unfortunately for the opposition, they seemed fatigued throughout, the historic win against the French side clearly having had an impact.

Tactical Shifts

Marc Skinner had attempted to make changes with a several alterations. Ella Toone, Elisabeth Terland, Dominique Janssen and Galton all provided freshness, although the omission of the on-form Malard to the sidelines caused surprise.

City, in opposition, have fewer workload worries. The City coach made a single alteration from last week’s win over the Toffees with Hemp making her first start since healing from a fitness issue.

Overpowering Start

The storm clouds started to build for Skinner and his squad from the kickoff. This was a exhibition of the quality from Manchester City whose dynamic attack manipulated and tore United open with a excellent first half showing that saw them put three past the keeper in under half an hour.

This left the home team firmly in control and left United disorganized. In advance of this fixture, the away side had conceded just six in this domestic competition but they fell apart in the presence of Manchester City's offensive ingenuity.

Early Chances

The early indicators came early when Vivianne Miedema used her strength to muscle Julia Zigiotti off the ball, only to send her shot off target. Hemp was at the center of everything from the start, taking advantage of the space left by Jayde Riviere down the visitors' wing. Her passes were causing problems and led to an attempt for Yui Hasegawa that Sandberg scrambled off the line.

The Red Devils had a number of forays forwards, their long-ball tactic giving them choices in the wings but they could not challenge Yamashita. City, meanwhile, dominated the ball, probing their opponents and trying to pull them out of their structure.

Scoring Spree

They converted their dominance with almost half an hour played when Aoba Fujino won the hosts a set-piece. A ball to the far post was nodded across goal by Shaw for Rebecca Knaak to nod home. It was Manchester City's 7th header of the term.

They increased their cushion with an additional two goals just before the break. When Jade Rose was allowed to maraud through the middle from the back, the pitch widened for the hosts. The key Kerstin Casparij collected the pass on the right before providing a pinpoint driven ball for Bunny Shaw to tap home. Shortly later, they had a additional score after a rapid change in the ball saw Lauren Hemp given the space to strike a effort home from distance.

Final Period

The clearest change came from the United manager at the break as Melvine Malard was introduced for Terland but by this time it was ineffective to change the course of the contest. Former Manchester City player Jess Park came nearest, striking the upright, but the away team were lacking in ideas and were unable to produce a one shot on target.

The home side, meanwhile, could have extended their cushion when a superb Miedema pass sent Bunny Shaw away only for her to fail to convert but it was insignificant to the hosts. Having failed to defeat any side who placed above them in the prior term, Jeglertz’s side now have wins against the Gunners and Manchester United to put them in a favorable position after the opening fixtures.