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Much like the recent storm tore through the northwest the prior day, City blew the visitors aside at the their home ground. It was a convincing three-nil victory for Andrée Jeglertz’s side thanks to goals from Rebecca Knaak, Shaw and Lauren Hemp. It was a performance that clearly signaled their title credentials as they consolidated their standing at the WSL pinnacle.

Successive Setbacks for Manchester United

This outcome marked consecutive league defeats for the United manager's side for the initial occasion since last May, placing them a sizable gap off the top team with their title hopes severely dented.

United’s capability to juggle domestic and European football with a small team has been a frequently analyzed subject since they secured entry to the Champions League. Considering the fixture list, it always seemed this was the period that would truly test this ability. Unfortunately for the visitors, they seemed tired all game, the memorable win against Paris Saint-Germain clearly having taken a toll.

Team Changes

Marc Skinner had attempted to make changes with a handful of changes. Toone, Elisabeth Terland, Janssen and Leah Galton all provided energy, although the omission of the on-form Melvine Malard to the sidelines caused surprise.

The hosts, in comparison, have no similar loading issues. Andrée Jeglertz made a single alteration from last week’s win over the Toffees with Lauren Hemp making her return to the lineup since healing from a fitness issue.

Dominant First Half

The pressure started to build for Skinner and his side from the first whistle. This was a exhibition of the strength from City whose potent attack controlled and tore United open with a superb initial 45 minutes display that saw them put three past the keeper in just over twenty minutes.

This placed City completely dominant and had Manchester United struggling. Before this match, United had let in just six in this WSL season but they fell apart in the presence of the hosts' attacking flair.

Opening Threats

The omens came early when Miedema used her physicality to push Julia Zigiotti off the ball, only to drag her shot wide. Hemp was at the heart of everything from the start, taking advantage of the room left by Jayde Riviere down United’s right flank. Her passes were creating danger and led to an opportunity for Yui Hasegawa that Anna Sandberg kicked off the line.

The Red Devils had several attacks forwards, their direct style giving them alternatives in the wings but they could not challenge Ayaka Yamashita. City, in the meantime, commanded the ball, teasing their opposition and trying to lure them of their structure.

Scoring Spree

They converted their dominance with almost half an hour played when Fujino won the hosts a corner. A cross to the far post was directed across goal by Shaw for Knaak to score. It was City’s seventh goal from a cross of the term.

They increased their advantage with another pair of goals just before the half-time. When Jade Rose was allowed to maraud through the midfield from central defence, the pitch opened up for the hosts. The prominent Casparij picked the ball up on the wing before providing a pinpoint ground pass for Bunny Shaw to force home. Shortly later, they had a third goal after a rapid change in the ball saw Hemp allowed the space to strike a effort home from distance.

After the Break

The primary substitution came from Skinner at the break as Melvine Malard was introduced for Elisabeth Terland but by this time it was ineffective to alter the outcome of the contest. Ex- Manchester City player Park came closest, rattling the woodwork, but the visitors were offensively poor and were unable to register a single shot on target.

The home side, meanwhile, could have increased their cushion when a excellent Miedema through ball sent Bunny Shaw away only for her to fail to convert but it was insignificant to the hosts. Having failed to defeat any side who placed above them in the prior term, City's side now have wins against the Gunners and United to put them in a favorable situation after nine matches.