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Just as the recent storm tore through the northern region the previous evening, City blew United away at the Etihad Stadium. It was a emphatic three goal triumph for the City coach's side thanks to goals from Rebecca Knaak, Shaw and Lauren Hemp. It was a display that truly announced their title credentials as they consolidated their place at the top of the table.

Successive Setbacks for Manchester United

This result signalled consecutive Women's Super League losses for Marc Skinner’s side for the initial occasion since last May, placing them a sizable gap off the top team with their trophy ambitions in serious doubt.

United’s capacity to balance domestic and continental soccer with a thin squad has been a widely debated subject since they qualified for the European competition. Looking at the calendar, it always felt like this was the week that would seriously challenge this capability. Sadly for the visitors, they appeared tired from start to finish, the historic win against Paris Saint-Germain clearly having had an impact.

Tactical Shifts

The United manager had attempted to make changes with a several alterations. Ella Toone, Elisabeth Terland, Dominique Janssen and Leah Galton all added freshness, although the dropping of the in-form Melvine Malard to the sidelines caused surprise.

City, in contrast, have fewer workload concerns. Jeglertz made a single alteration from their most recent win over the Toffees with Hemp making her return to the lineup since recovering from a physical setback.

Dominant First Half

The trouble started to gather for Skinner and his team from the first whistle. This was a show of the power from Manchester City whose energetic attack manipulated and dismantled the opposition with a sublime opening period display that saw them net a trio in 21 minutes.

This left the home team completely dominant and had Manchester United all at sea. In advance of this encounter, the away side had let in just few in this league campaign but they collapsed in the face of City’s offensive ingenuity.

Initial Opportunities

The warning signs came soon when Miedema used her strength to push Julia Zigiotti off the ball, only to pull her shot wide. Hemp was at the heart of everything in the beginning, using the space left by Jayde Riviere down United’s right side. Her passes were creating danger and led to an opportunity for Yui Hasegawa that Sandberg cleared off the line.

United had several sorties forwards, their direct style giving them choices in the wide areas but they could not trouble the City goalkeeper. City, meanwhile, controlled possession, taunting their rivals and trying to lure them of their defensive shape.

Scoring Spree

They converted their dominance with almost half an hour played when Fujino won the home team a corner. A ball to the far post was nodded across goal by Bunny Shaw for Knaak to head in. It was Manchester City's 7th headed goal of the term.

They increased their cushion with an additional two goals just before the half-time. When Jade Rose was allowed to advance through the midfield from defense, the field opened up for the hosts. The key Casparij received possession on the right before delivering a precise ground pass for Bunny Shaw to force home. Four minutes later, they had a third goal after a swift turnover in possession saw Lauren Hemp allowed the opportunity to fire a shot home from distance.

Final Period

The clearest change came from Skinner at the half-time as Malard entered for Terland but by this time it was ineffective to alter the outcome of the game. Former City player Jess Park came nearest, rattling the upright, but the visitors were creatively abject and failed to produce a one shot on goal.

The home side, meanwhile, could have increased their lead when a delightful Vivianne Miedema through ball 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 finished above them last season, City's side now have victories against Arsenal and United to position them in a strong standing after nine games.