Manchester City Three-Nil Man United: Hemp on target in City comfortable victory.

Just as bad weather tore through the north-west the night before, City swept Manchester United aside at the Etihad Stadium. It was a convincing 3-0 win for the City coach's side owing to goals from Knaak, Shaw and Hemp. It was a performance that clearly signaled their leadership claims as they reinforced their standing at the WSL pinnacle.

Consecutive Defeats for Manchester United

This outcome marked successive Women's Super League setbacks for Skinner's side for the first time since last May, placing them a sizable gap off the table toppers with their trophy ambitions hanging by a thread.

Manchester United's ability to manage domestic and continental football with a limited team has been a widely debated topic since they qualified for the Champions League. Reviewing the calendar, it always seemed this was the week that would fully examine this fortitude. Regrettably for the away side, they looked fatigued from start to finish, the landmark win against PSG clearly having taken a toll.

Lineup Adjustments

Skinner had attempted to make changes with a handful of changes. Toone, Terland, Dominique Janssen and Galton all provided vigor, although the exclusion of the in-form Malard to the bench was questioned.

City, in opposition, have no such fitness issues. Andrée Jeglertz made one change from last week’s win over the Toffees with Hemp making her initial starting appearance since healing from injury.

Commanding Opening Period

The trouble started to build for Skinner and his side from the kickoff. This was a demonstration of the power from Manchester City whose energetic offense controlled and dismantled the opposition with a superb initial 45 minutes performance that saw them net a trio in just over twenty minutes.

This placed City firmly in control and had Manchester United struggling. Prior to this fixture, United had conceded just six in this league campaign but they disintegrated in the face of Manchester City's creative prowess.

Opening Threats

The warning signs came soon when Miedema used her strength to push Julia Zigiotti off the ball, only to pull her shot off target. Lauren Hemp was at the core of everything in the beginning, taking advantage of the room left by Riviere down United’s wing. Her crosses were creating danger and led to an opportunity for Yui Hasegawa that Sandberg scrambled off the line.

United had a number of forays ahead, their long-ball tactic giving them alternatives in the flanks but they could not test Yamashita. City, on the other hand, dominated possession, teasing their rivals and trying to lure them of their defensive shape.

Triple Strike

They turned chances into goals with almost the first period played when Fujino won the home team a corner. A ball to the back post was directed across goal by Shaw for Rebecca Knaak to head in. It was Manchester City's seventh header of the term.

They increased their advantage with another pair of goals just before the break. When Rose was able to maraud through the midfield from defense, the field became spacious for the hosts. The key Kerstin Casparij picked the ball up on the right side before delivering a accurate driven ball for Shaw to bundle home. Four minutes later, they had a third after a rapid change in possession saw Lauren Hemp afforded the opportunity to fire a effort home from range.

Final Period

The primary change came from the United manager at the break as Melvine Malard came on for Terland but by this time it was ineffective to shift the momentum of the match. Ex- City player Park came most likely to score, rattling the post, but the visitors were offensively poor and did not manage to produce a one shot on goal.

The hosts, in contrast, could have extended their advantage when a superb Vivianne Miedema pass sent 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 ended above them last season, City's side now have wins against Arsenal and Manchester United to place them in a commanding situation after nine matches.