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Just as the recent storm tore through the northwest the night before, Manchester City blew United aside at the Etihad Stadium. It was a convincing three-nil win for the City coach's side due to goals from Rebecca Knaak, Shaw and Hemp. It was a performance that clearly signaled their championship potential as they consolidated their position at the WSL pinnacle.

Back-to-Back Setbacks for Manchester United

This scoreline marked back-to-back WSL setbacks for Skinner's side for the maiden instance since last May, putting them a significant margin off the top team with their championship aspirations severely dented.

The Red Devils' capability to manage domestic and continental football with a small squad has been a frequently analyzed subject since they earned a place in the UCL. Reviewing the fixture list, it always seemed this was the week that would fully examine this capability. Unfortunately for the visitors, they seemed weary all game, the historic win against the French side clearly having left its mark.

Lineup Adjustments

Skinner had attempted to rotate the squad with a handful of changes. Toone, Terland, Janssen and Leah Galton all provided freshness, although the omission of the on-form Melvine Malard to the sidelines was questioned.

City, in comparison, have no similar fitness concerns. Andrée Jeglertz made one change from the previous win over Everton with Lauren Hemp making her first start since recovering from a fitness issue.

Dominant First Half

The pressure started to gather for Skinner and his side from the first whistle. This was a show of the power from City whose dynamic attack played with and dismantled the opposition with a superb initial 45 minutes display that saw them put three past the keeper in under half an hour.

This left the home team firmly in control and saw the visitors struggling. Before this fixture, the away side had conceded just few in this domestic competition but they collapsed in the wake of City’s offensive ingenuity.

Initial Opportunities

The early indicators came soon when Miedema used her strength to push Zigiotti off the ball, only to drag her shot past the post. Lauren Hemp was at the center of everything early on, exploiting the gap left by Jayde Riviere down the visitors' right flank. Her passes were causing problems and led to an opportunity for Yui Hasegawa that Sandberg scrambled off the line.

The Red Devils had several forays forward, their straightforward approach giving them options in the wings but they could not trouble Yamashita. Manchester City, on the other hand, dominated possession, teasing their rivals and trying to lure them of their defensive shape.

Goals Galore

They made their pressure count with almost the first period played when Aoba Fujino won the hosts a corner. A cross to the back post was headed across goal by Bunny Shaw for Rebecca Knaak to score. It was City’s seventh header of the term.

They added to their lead with an additional two goals just before the half-time. When Jade Rose was able to maraud through the midfield from defense, the field became spacious for City. The influential Kerstin Casparij received possession on the right before providing a precise low cross for Shaw to tap home. Four minutes later, they had a third goal after a swift shift in the ball saw Lauren Hemp allowed the opportunity to strike a effort home from outside the box.

After the Break

The primary substitution came from the United manager at the break as Malard entered for Elisabeth Terland but by this time it was too late to change the course of the contest. Former Manchester City player Park came most likely to score, rattling the woodwork, but the visitors were offensively poor and failed to record a solitary shot on goal.

The hosts, meanwhile, could have extended their lead when a delightful Miedema pass sent Shaw away only for her to miss the chance but it was insignificant to the hosts. Previously unable to overcome any opponent who ended above them last season, City's side now have victories against the Gunners and Manchester United to place them in a strong standing after nine games.