The Citizens Three Goals to Nil Manchester United: Hemp finds the net in City stroll.

Much like bad weather hit the north-west the night before, City overwhelmed United aside at the Etihad. It was a convincing three-nil triumph for Andrée Jeglertz’s side due to goals from Rebecca Knaak, Bunny Shaw and Hemp. It was a performance that firmly established their leadership claims as they reinforced their standing at the league summit.

Successive Setbacks for United

This outcome signalled consecutive WSL losses for the United manager's side for the first time since last May, leaving them seven points off the table toppers with their title hopes in serious doubt.

Manchester United's capability to manage domestic and European soccer with a limited squad has been a frequently analyzed issue since they secured entry to the Champions League. Considering the fixture list, it always appeared this was the period that would truly test this fortitude. Unfortunately for the opposition, they seemed fatigued throughout, the memorable win against PSG clearly having had an impact.

Lineup Adjustments

The United manager had sought to rotate the squad with a handful of adjustments. Ella Toone, Elisabeth Terland, Janssen and Leah Galton all added vigor, although the omission of the in-form Melvine Malard to the sidelines caused surprise.

The hosts, in contrast, have fewer fitness concerns. The City coach made a single alteration from last week’s win over the Toffees with Lauren Hemp making her first start since recovering from a fitness issue.

Overpowering Start

The trouble started to build for the United boss and his team from the opening minute. This was a exhibition of the strength from Manchester City whose potent offense played with and pulled the visitors apart with a excellent first half showing that saw them net a trio in under half an hour.

This put the hosts 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 face of the hosts' creative prowess.

Initial Opportunities

The omens came soon when Miedema used her strength to push Julia Zigiotti off the ball, only to send her shot past the post. Lauren Hemp was at the center of everything from the start, using the room left by Riviere down United’s right flank. Her passes were causing problems and led to an opportunity for Hasegawa that Anna Sandberg kicked off the line.

The Red Devils had several sorties forward, their direct style giving them choices in the wide areas but they could not trouble Ayaka Yamashita. Manchester City, in the meantime, controlled possession, taunting their opposition and trying to draw them out of their defensive shape.

Triple Strike

They made their pressure count with almost half an hour played when Aoba Fujino won the home team a set-piece. A delivery to the back post was nodded across goal by Shaw for Rebecca Knaak to score. It was City’s seventh header of the season.

They added to their cushion with two more goals just before the interval. When Jade Rose was allowed to advance through the middle from central defence, the field opened up for the hosts. The influential Kerstin Casparij received possession on the right side before sending a precise ground pass for Shaw to force home. Four minutes later, they had a third goal after a quick turnover in possession saw Hemp given the room to drive a shot home from range.

After the Break

The most obvious change came from Skinner at the half-time as Melvine Malard came on for Terland but by this time it was futile to shift the momentum of the match. Former City player Jess Park came closest, striking the woodwork, but the away team were lacking in ideas and were unable to register a one shot on target.

The hosts, on the other hand, could have increased their advantage when a delightful Vivianne Miedema long ball sent Shaw away only for her to fluff her lines but it was insignificant to the hosts. Having failed to defeat any team who ended above them the previous campaign, Jeglertz’s side now have successes against Arsenal and Manchester United to position them in a favorable standing after nine games.