Manchester City 3-0 Man United: Lauren Hemp finds the net in City comfortable victory.

Just as Storm Claudia swept through the north-west the previous evening, City swept Manchester United aside at the their home ground. It was a convincing three-nil victory for their manager's side due to goals from Rebecca Knaak, Shaw and Lauren Hemp. It was a performance that clearly signaled their championship potential as they reinforced their standing at the league summit.

Consecutive Defeats for United

This outcome signalled successive Women's Super League losses for Marc Skinner’s side for the first time since last May, leaving them a sizable gap off the league leaders with their trophy ambitions hanging by a thread.

United’s ability to juggle league and European soccer with a thin roster has been a hotly discussed topic since they qualified for the European competition. Reviewing the schedule, it always appeared this was the period that would seriously challenge this fortitude. Regrettably for the away side, they looked fatigued all game, the memorable win against Paris Saint-Germain clearly having taken a toll.

Tactical Shifts

Skinner had sought to rotate the squad with a handful of adjustments. Toone, Elisabeth Terland, Dominique Janssen and Galton all added freshness, although the dropping of the high-performing Malard to the substitutes caused surprise.

The hosts, in contrast, have no such fitness concerns. Jeglertz made a single alteration from the previous win over the Toffees with Hemp making her initial starting appearance since healing from a fitness issue.

Commanding Opening Period

The pressure started to build for the United boss and his side from the opening minute. This was a show of the power from Manchester City whose potent offense played with and tore United open with a sublime initial 45 minutes showing that saw them score three goals in 21 minutes.

This put the hosts in a commanding position and left United all at sea. Prior to this match, United had allowed just a handful in this domestic competition but they fell apart in the wake of the hosts' creative prowess.

Opening Threats

The warning signs came quickly when Miedema used her physicality to bundle Zigiotti off the ball, only to pull her shot off target. Lauren Hemp was at the center of everything from the start, using the gap left by Jayde Riviere down the visitors' right side. Her crosses were posing a threat and led to an attempt for Hasegawa that Sandberg scrambled off the line.

United had several attacks forwards, their straightforward approach giving them alternatives in the flanks but they could not test Yamashita. City, meanwhile, controlled the ball, taunting their rivals and trying to lure them of their organization.

Scoring Spree

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

They extended their advantage with an additional two goals just before the half-time. When Jade Rose was allowed to advance through the midfield from central defence, the play opened up for City. The influential Casparij picked the ball up on the right before sending a pinpoint low cross for Bunny Shaw to bundle home. Four minutes later, they had a additional score after a swift shift in the ball saw Hemp allowed the opportunity to strike a shot home from distance.

Final Period

The primary change came from the United manager at the half-time as Melvine Malard came on for Elisabeth Terland but by this time it was too late to shift the momentum of the game. Ex- City player Jess Park came nearest, rattling the post, but the visitors were lacking in ideas and were unable to record a solitary shot on goal.

The home side, in contrast, could have increased their advantage when a superb Vivianne Miedema through ball sent Shaw away only for her to fail to convert but it was insignificant to the winning team. Previously unable to beat any opponent who placed above them the previous campaign, City's side now have successes against Arsenal and United to put them in a strong standing after the opening fixtures.