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Much like bad weather tore through the northern region the prior day, the home side swept the visitors away at the Etihad Stadium. It was a statement three goal victory for the City coach's side due to goals from Rebecca Knaak, Bunny Shaw and Hemp. It was a result that firmly established their leadership claims as they strengthened their standing at the top of the table.

Consecutive Defeats for Manchester United

This result represented consecutive league defeats for Skinner's side for the maiden instance since last May, putting them a sizable gap off the table toppers with their title hopes hanging by a thread.

United’s ability to balance league and continental football with a thin squad has been a frequently analyzed subject since they secured entry to the Champions League. Looking at the schedule, it always felt like this was the matchday that would fully examine this fortitude. Unfortunately for the opposition, they looked tired all game, the landmark win against the French side clearly having had an impact.

Lineup Adjustments

Marc Skinner had attempted to make changes with a a few alterations. Toone, Terland, Janssen and Galton all added vigor, although the dropping of the on-form Melvine Malard to the bench raised a few eyebrows.

City, in opposition, have fewer fitness worries. Andrée Jeglertz made one change from the previous win over the Toffees with Hemp making her initial starting appearance since recovering from a physical setback.

Overpowering Start

The trouble started to accumulate for the United boss and his side from the first whistle. This was a demonstration of the strength from City whose dynamic attack controlled and dismantled the opposition with a excellent initial 45 minutes showing that saw them score three goals in just over twenty minutes.

This put the hosts in a commanding position and left United struggling. Prior to this fixture, United had conceded just six in this domestic competition but they fell apart in the presence of City’s offensive ingenuity.

Initial Opportunities

The warning signs came quickly when Vivianne Miedema used her power to push Zigiotti off the ball, only to pull her shot wide. Lauren Hemp was at the core of everything from the start, using the space left by Riviere down the visitors' right side. Her passes were posing a threat and led to an attempt for Yui Hasegawa that Sandberg scrambled off the line.

United had a number of attacks forward, their long-ball tactic giving them choices in the flanks but they could not challenge the City goalkeeper. Manchester City, in the meantime, dominated possession, probing their opposition and trying to pull them out of their structure.

Triple Strike

They made their pressure count with almost half an hour played when Fujino won the hosts a set-piece. A cross to the far post was directed across goal by Shaw for Rebecca Knaak to nod home. It was City’s 7th header of the campaign.

They extended their cushion with two more goals just before the break. When Jade Rose was able to drive through the midfield from central defence, the play became spacious for the hosts. The key Kerstin Casparij picked the ball up on the wing before providing a pinpoint ground pass for Bunny Shaw to tap home. A short time later, they had a additional score after a swift shift in possession saw Hemp allowed the space to drive a effort home from distance.

After the Break

The primary substitution came from Skinner at the break as Malard came on for Elisabeth Terland but by this time it was ineffective to shift the momentum of the game. Former Manchester City player Jess Park came closest, rattling the upright, but the away team were lacking in ideas and failed to register a solitary shot on target.

The hosts, meanwhile, could have extended their cushion when a superb Miedema long ball sent Bunny Shaw away only for her to fluff her lines but it was insignificant to the hosts. After failing to defeat any side who placed above them in the prior term, City's side now have successes against Arsenal and Manchester United to put them in a commanding standing after the opening fixtures.