🔗 Share this article

Just as bad weather tore through the northern region the night before, Manchester City swept Manchester United away at the Etihad. It was a statement three goal win for their manager's side thanks to goals from Rebecca Knaak, Bunny Shaw and Lauren Hemp. It was a display that truly announced their championship potential as they strengthened their standing at the league summit.

Back-to-Back Defeats for United

This outcome signalled successive WSL setbacks for the United manager's side for the maiden instance since last May, putting them seven points off the top team with their championship aspirations in serious doubt.

Manchester United's capability to manage domestic and continental soccer with a thin squad has been a frequently analyzed subject since they qualified for the European competition. Looking at the schedule, it always felt like this was the matchday that would seriously challenge this ability. Unfortunately for the opposition, they appeared fatigued from start to finish, the memorable win against Paris Saint-Germain clearly having had an impact.

Tactical Shifts

Marc Skinner had tried to freshen things up with a handful of alterations. Ella Toone, Elisabeth Terland, Janssen and Galton all provided vigor, although the dropping of the high-performing Malard to the substitutes raised a few eyebrows.

Manchester City, in comparison, have no similar workload concerns. The City coach made one change from the previous win over the Toffees with Lauren Hemp making her return to the lineup since healing from injury.

Overpowering Start

The trouble started to gather for Skinner and his side from the kickoff. This was a exhibition of the strength from Manchester City whose dynamic attack played with and dismantled the opposition with a superb opening period showing that saw them put three past the keeper in 21 minutes.

This put the hosts completely dominant and left United struggling. In advance of this encounter, United had let in just six in this domestic competition but they fell apart in the presence of the hosts' creative prowess.

Opening Threats

The omens came early when Vivianne Miedema used her physicality to push Julia Zigiotti off the ball, only to pull her shot past the post. Lauren Hemp was at the center of everything early on, taking advantage of the space left by Riviere down United’s right flank. Her passes were posing a threat and led to an opportunity for Yui Hasegawa that Sandberg scrambled off the line.

United had multiple forays ahead, their straightforward approach giving them choices in the wide areas but they could not challenge Ayaka Yamashita. City, in the meantime, commanded the ball, probing their rivals and trying to lure them of their organization.

Triple Strike

They turned chances into goals with almost half an hour played when Aoba Fujino won the home team a set-piece. A cross to the back post was headed across goal by Bunny Shaw for Knaak to head in. It was City’s 7th goal from a cross of the season.

They extended their lead with another pair of goals just before the half-time. When Rose was allowed to maraud through the midfield from central defence, the play widened for the hosts. The prominent Casparij received possession on the right before providing a pinpoint low cross for Bunny Shaw to force home. Four minutes later, they had a additional score after a rapid change in possession saw Hemp afforded the room to drive a effort home from outside the box.

Final Period

The clearest change came from Skinner at the interval as Malard entered for Elisabeth Terland but by this time it was ineffective to shift the momentum of the contest. Former Manchester City player Park came nearest, rattling the upright, but the away team were lacking in ideas and were unable to record a one shot on goal.

The hosts, meanwhile, could have added to their lead when a delightful Vivianne Miedema pass sent Bunny Shaw away only for her to miss the chance but it did not affect the result to the winning team. Previously unable to defeat any side who placed above them the previous campaign, the manager's side now have successes against the Gunners and United to position them in a commanding position after the opening fixtures.