🔗 Share this article

Just as Storm Claudia tore through the northwest the night before, Manchester City blew United away at the their home ground. It was a convincing 3-0 victory for their manager's side thanks to goals from Rebecca Knaak, Bunny Shaw and Hemp. It was a performance that truly announced their championship potential as they strengthened their standing at the WSL pinnacle.

Successive Defeats for United

This result represented consecutive WSL losses for the United manager's side for the first time since last May, placing them seven points off the table toppers with their title hopes severely dented.

Manchester United's capacity to manage domestic and European football with a limited roster has been a widely debated issue since they qualified for the UCL. Looking at the calendar, it always appeared this was the period that would seriously challenge this ability. Sadly for the opposition, they appeared weary from start to finish, the memorable win against PSG clearly having taken a toll.

Team Changes

Marc Skinner had tried to rotate the squad with a a few adjustments. Toone, Terland, Janssen and Leah Galton all added energy, although the exclusion of the in-form Malard to the bench raised a few eyebrows.

Manchester City, in comparison, have no such workload issues. Andrée Jeglertz made one change from last week’s win over the Toffees with Lauren Hemp making her return to the lineup since healing from a physical setback.

Dominant First Half

The storm clouds started to gather for Skinner and his squad from the first whistle. This was a demonstration of the quality from Manchester City whose potent attack manipulated and tore United open with a superb opening period performance that saw them put three past the keeper in under half an hour.

This placed City completely dominant and had Manchester United disorganized. In advance of this fixture, the away side had let in just few in this WSL season but they collapsed in the presence of City’s attacking flair.

Initial Opportunities

The warning signs came quickly when Vivianne Miedema used her strength to bundle Julia Zigiotti off the ball, only to drag her shot wide. Lauren Hemp was at the core of everything early on, exploiting the space left by Riviere down the visitors' right side. Her deliveries were creating danger and led to an opportunity for Yui Hasegawa that Sandberg cleared off the line.

United had several forays forward, their straightforward approach giving them alternatives in the wide areas but they could not trouble the City goalkeeper. Manchester City, on the other hand, dominated possession, teasing their rivals and trying to draw them out of their defensive shape.

Goals Galore

They made their pressure count with almost thirty minutes played when Aoba Fujino won the home team a set-piece. A cross to the far post was headed across goal by Bunny Shaw for Knaak to score. It was Manchester City's 7th header of the season.

They extended their lead with two more goals just before the half-time. When Rose was permitted to maraud through the center from central defence, the pitch opened up for City. The influential Casparij picked the ball up on the right before providing a accurate ground pass for Bunny Shaw to bundle home. Four minutes later, they had a additional score after a quick change in the ball saw Hemp given the room to strike a effort home from outside the box.

Second Half

The clearest adjustment came from Skinner at the half-time as Malard came on for Terland but by this time it was too late to alter the outcome of the game. Ex- City player Park came closest, rattling the upright, but the away team were creatively abject and did not manage to record a solitary shot on goal.

The hosts, on the other hand, could have increased their lead when a excellent Miedema pass sent Bunny Shaw away only for her to fluff her lines but it did not affect the result to the winning team. After failing to beat any side who finished above them in the prior term, Jeglertz’s side now have successes against the Gunners and United to place them in a commanding standing after nine games.