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Similar to bad weather hit the north-west the night before, Manchester City swept Manchester United away at the their home ground. It was a statement 3-0 triumph for their manager's side owing to goals from Rebecca Knaak, Bunny Shaw and Hemp. It was a display that firmly established their leadership claims as they consolidated their position at the WSL pinnacle.

Back-to-Back Losses for Manchester United

This scoreline signalled back-to-back Women's Super League losses for the United manager's side for the initial occasion since last May, placing them a significant margin off the top team with their trophy ambitions in serious doubt.

The Red Devils' capacity to manage domestic and European soccer with a thin squad has been a hotly discussed issue since they earned a place in the Champions League. Looking at the fixture list, it always seemed this was the period that would truly test this ability. Regrettably for the visitors, they seemed fatigued throughout, the landmark win against PSG clearly having left its mark.

Team Changes

Skinner had attempted to make changes with a several adjustments. Toone, Elisabeth Terland, Janssen and Leah Galton all brought energy, although the dropping of the high-performing Malard to the bench was questioned.

City, in comparison, have fewer workload concerns. The City coach made one adjustment from last week’s win over Everton with Lauren Hemp making her initial starting appearance since healing from a fitness issue.

Commanding Opening Period

The pressure started to build for Skinner and his squad from the first whistle. This was a exhibition of the strength from City whose potent forward line played with and dismantled the opposition with a superb initial 45 minutes showing that saw them put three past the keeper in 21 minutes.

This left the home team in a commanding position and had Manchester United disorganized. In advance of this fixture, United had allowed just few in this WSL season but they disintegrated in the wake of Manchester City's attacking flair.

Early Chances

The warning signs came quickly when Miedema used her physicality to bundle Zigiotti off the ball, only to pull her shot past the post. Lauren Hemp was at the core of everything in the beginning, taking advantage of the gap left by Jayde Riviere down United’s right flank. Her crosses were posing a threat and led to an opportunity for Hasegawa that Sandberg kicked off the line.

United had several sorties forward, their long-ball tactic 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 opposition and trying to pull them out of their structure.

Scoring Spree

They turned chances into goals with almost the first period played when Aoba Fujino won the hosts a corner. A delivery to the back post was nodded across goal by Bunny Shaw for Knaak to nod home. It was City’s seventh header of the season.

They increased their advantage with another pair of goals just before the break. When Rose was allowed to maraud through the center from defense, the play became spacious for City. The influential Casparij received possession on the right side before providing a pinpoint driven ball for Shaw to tap home. Shortly later, they had a third after a rapid shift in the ball saw Hemp given the space to fire a attempt home from distance.

After the Break

The primary change came from Skinner at the half-time as Melvine Malard entered for Elisabeth Terland but by this time it was ineffective to shift the momentum of the contest. Former City player Jess Park came most likely to score, hitting the upright, but the visitors were lacking in ideas and failed to register a one shot on target.

The home side, meanwhile, could have increased their lead when a delightful Vivianne Miedema through ball sent Shaw away only for her to fluff her lines but it was insignificant to the winning team. Previously unable to beat any side who ended above them last season, the manager's side now have wins against the Gunners and United to place them in a favorable position after the opening fixtures.