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Much like the recent storm tore through the north-west the night before, Manchester City blew Manchester United aside at the Etihad Stadium. It was a emphatic three goal win for Andrée Jeglertz’s side thanks to goals from Knaak, Bunny Shaw and Hemp. It was a display that clearly signaled their title credentials as they strengthened their standing at the top of the table.

Back-to-Back Setbacks for United

This result represented consecutive league losses for the United manager's side for the first time since last May, leaving them a sizable gap off the table toppers with their trophy ambitions severely dented.

Manchester United's capacity to juggle league and continental soccer with a small roster has been a hotly discussed topic since they secured entry to the Champions League. Reviewing the calendar, it always appeared this was the matchday that would seriously challenge this fortitude. Unfortunately for the opposition, they seemed weary throughout, the historic win against the French side clearly having taken a toll.

Lineup Adjustments

The United manager had tried to make changes with a a few alterations. Ella Toone, Elisabeth Terland, Janssen and Leah Galton all brought freshness, although the omission of the in-form Malard to the substitutes caused surprise.

City, in comparison, have no such loading worries. The City coach made a single alteration from last week’s win over Everton with Hemp making her return to the lineup since healing from a physical setback.

Commanding Opening Period

The storm clouds started to accumulate for the United boss and his team from the kickoff. This was a exhibition of the power from City whose dynamic forward line played with and dismantled the opposition with a excellent first half display that saw them score three goals in under half an hour.

This put the hosts completely dominant and saw the visitors struggling. Prior to this fixture, the away side had conceded just few in this domestic competition but they fell apart in the face of the hosts' attacking flair.

Opening Threats

The warning signs came early when Miedema used her physicality to bundle Zigiotti off the ball, only to send her shot past the post. Hemp was at the heart of everything in the beginning, taking advantage of the space left by Riviere down United’s wing. Her passes were posing a threat and led to an opportunity for Yui Hasegawa that Sandberg kicked off the line.

United had a number of attacks forward, their direct style giving them alternatives in the wings but they could not test the City goalkeeper. City, in the meantime, dominated possession, probing their opponents and trying to pull them out of their organization.

Scoring Spree

They made their pressure count with almost the first period played when Fujino won the hosts a corner. A delivery to the back post was headed across goal by Shaw for Knaak to nod home. It was City’s seventh headed goal of the term.

They extended their lead with another pair of goals just before the half-time. When Rose was allowed to advance through the midfield from central defence, the field opened up for City. The influential Kerstin Casparij collected the pass on the right before providing a precise low cross for Shaw to tap home. A short time later, they had a third goal after a quick turnover in the ball saw Lauren Hemp allowed the space to fire a shot home from outside the box.

Second Half

The primary change came from Skinner at the interval as Melvine Malard was introduced for Elisabeth Terland but by this time it was too late to shift the momentum of the match. Former Manchester City player Jess Park came closest, hitting the post, but the visitors were creatively abject and were unable to register a solitary shot on target.

The hosts, on the other hand, could have added to their cushion when a delightful Vivianne Miedema through ball sent Bunny Shaw away only for her to miss the chance but it was insignificant to the hosts. Having failed to overcome any opponent who ended above them last season, Jeglertz’s side now have wins against the Gunners and Manchester United to place them in a strong standing after nine matches.