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Much like the recent storm tore through the north-west the prior day, the home side swept Manchester United aside at the Etihad Stadium. It was a convincing 3-0 victory for the City coach's side due to goals from Rebecca Knaak, Bunny Shaw and Lauren Hemp. It was a display that truly announced their leadership claims as they reinforced their place at the WSL pinnacle.

Successive Defeats for Manchester United

This outcome represented back-to-back league losses for Skinner's side for the first time since last May, placing them a significant margin off the top team with their trophy ambitions severely dented.

The Red Devils' ability to manage domestic and European football with a thin team has been a hotly discussed subject since they earned a place in the UCL. Reviewing the schedule, it always felt like this was the period that would fully examine this capability. Regrettably for the opposition, they appeared fatigued all game, the memorable win against Paris Saint-Germain clearly having left its mark.

Lineup Adjustments

The United manager had sought to rotate the squad with a a few adjustments. Ella Toone, Elisabeth Terland, Janssen and Galton all added energy, although the dropping of the in-form Malard to the substitutes caused surprise.

The hosts, in opposition, have no such workload issues. Andrée Jeglertz made one adjustment from last week’s win over the Toffees with Hemp making her return to the lineup since recovering from a physical setback.

Dominant First Half

The storm clouds started to gather for the United boss and his squad from the first whistle. This was a show of the strength from City whose energetic attack manipulated and tore United open with a sublime initial 45 minutes performance that saw them put three past the keeper in 21 minutes.

This placed City in a commanding position and left United disorganized. In advance of this fixture, United had allowed just few in this domestic competition but they collapsed in the presence of City’s offensive ingenuity.

Initial Opportunities

The omens came early when Vivianne Miedema used her power to push Julia Zigiotti off the ball, only to drag her shot off target. Lauren Hemp was at the heart of everything in the beginning, exploiting the room left by Jayde Riviere down the visitors' right flank. Her deliveries were creating danger and led to an attempt for Hasegawa that Anna Sandberg scrambled off the line.

United had a number of attacks forwards, their straightforward approach giving them alternatives in the wings but they could not challenge Yamashita. Manchester City, on the other hand, dominated the ball, taunting their opponents and trying to draw them out of their structure.

Triple Strike

They turned chances into goals with almost thirty minutes played when Aoba Fujino won the hosts a corner. A cross to the back post was directed across goal by Shaw for Rebecca Knaak to head in. It was Manchester City's 7th header of the term.

They extended their lead with another pair of goals just before the break. When Rose was allowed to advance through the midfield from central defence, the play became spacious for City. The influential Kerstin Casparij picked the ball up on the wing before delivering a accurate driven ball for Shaw to force home. Shortly later, they had a third goal after a quick change in the ball saw Hemp given the space to drive a shot home from range.

Final Period

The clearest adjustment came from the United manager at the interval as Melvine Malard entered for Elisabeth Terland but by this time it was too late to change the course of the game. Ex- City player Jess Park came nearest, rattling the woodwork, but the visitors were creatively abject and were unable to register a solitary shot on goal.

The hosts, on the other hand, could have extended their lead when a excellent Miedema pass sent Bunny Shaw away only for her to miss the chance but it was insignificant to the hosts. Previously unable to beat any side who placed above them last season, City's side now have wins against Arsenal and Manchester United to place them in a strong position after nine games.