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Similar to bad weather tore through the north-west the prior day, the home side blew United away at the Etihad Stadium. It was a statement three-nil triumph for their manager's side thanks to goals from Rebecca Knaak, Bunny Shaw and Hemp. It was a result that firmly established their title credentials as they strengthened their position at the WSL pinnacle.

Back-to-Back Defeats for United

This outcome signalled back-to-back league defeats for the United manager's side for the maiden instance since last May, putting them a significant margin off the league leaders with their title hopes in serious doubt.

The Red Devils' capacity to manage league and continental football with a small team has been a widely debated subject since they earned a place in the UCL. Reviewing the schedule, it always seemed this was the period that would truly test this ability. Sadly for the visitors, they seemed fatigued all game, the memorable win against Paris Saint-Germain clearly having left its mark.

Team Changes

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

The hosts, in opposition, have no similar fitness worries. The City coach made one adjustment from last week’s win over Everton with Hemp making her initial starting appearance since healing from a fitness issue.

Commanding Opening Period

The trouble started to build for Skinner and his team from the first whistle. This was a demonstration of the strength from Manchester City whose dynamic offense controlled and dismantled the opposition with a sublime initial 45 minutes showing that saw them put three past the keeper in under half an hour.

This placed City in a commanding position and left United struggling. Prior to this encounter, United had let in just a handful in this league campaign but they collapsed in the wake of the hosts' creative prowess.

Initial Opportunities

The omens came early when Vivianne Miedema used her physicality to bundle Julia Zigiotti off the ball, only to send her shot wide. Hemp was at the core of everything from the start, exploiting the gap left by Riviere down United’s right flank. Her passes were causing problems and led to an chance for Yui Hasegawa that Sandberg scrambled off the line.

United had several attacks forward, their straightforward approach giving them choices in the wide areas but they could not trouble Ayaka Yamashita. Manchester City, on the other hand, dominated possession, teasing their opponents and trying to draw them out of their defensive shape.

Goals Galore

They turned chances into goals with almost half an hour played when Fujino won the home team a corner. A cross to the back post was directed across goal by Shaw for Rebecca Knaak to nod home. It was City’s seventh header of the campaign.

They added to their advantage with two more goals just before the break. When Rose was allowed to advance through the center from central defence, the pitch widened for the hosts. The key Kerstin Casparij collected the pass on the right side before providing a pinpoint low cross for Shaw to force home. Four minutes later, they had a third after a swift change in the ball saw Lauren Hemp given the space to drive a shot home from distance.

Second Half

The clearest substitution came from Skinner at the half-time as Malard was introduced for Elisabeth Terland but by this time it was futile to change the course of the contest. Former Manchester City player Park came nearest, striking the woodwork, but the away team were creatively abject and did not manage to produce a single shot on goal.

The hosts, on the other hand, could have extended their advantage when a superb Vivianne Miedema long ball sent Shaw away only for her to fail to convert but it did not affect the result to the winning team. Previously unable to overcome any opponent who placed above them last season, City's side now have victories against Arsenal and United to position them in a favorable standing after nine games.