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Just as the recent storm swept through the northwest the night before, Manchester City swept the visitors away at the Etihad Stadium. It was a emphatic 3-0 win for Andrée Jeglertz’s side due to goals from Knaak, Bunny Shaw and Hemp. It was a performance that firmly established their title credentials as they consolidated their standing at the top of the table.

Back-to-Back Setbacks for United

This result signalled consecutive Women's Super League defeats for Marc Skinner’s side for the initial occasion since last May, putting them seven points off the league leaders with their title hopes severely dented.

United’s ability to manage domestic and European soccer with a limited squad has been a hotly discussed subject since they secured entry to the European competition. Looking at the calendar, it always appeared this was the period that would seriously challenge this fortitude. Unfortunately for the visitors, they looked tired all game, the landmark win against PSG clearly having left its mark.

Team Changes

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

City, in contrast, have no such fitness issues. Jeglertz made one change from the previous win over Everton with Lauren Hemp making her first start since recovering from a fitness issue.

Dominant First Half

The trouble started to build for the United boss and his squad from the first whistle. This was a show of the power from Manchester City whose dynamic offense manipulated and dismantled the opposition with a sublime opening period showing that saw them put three past the keeper in 21 minutes.

This left the home team firmly in control and saw the visitors struggling. Before this fixture, the away side had allowed just few in this domestic competition but they fell apart in the face of City’s creative prowess.

Opening Threats

The omens came soon when Miedema used her power to bundle Zigiotti off the ball, only to send her shot wide. Hemp was at the core of everything in the beginning, taking advantage of the space left by Riviere down the visitors' wing. Her crosses were causing problems and led to an chance for Hasegawa that Sandberg cleared off the line.

The Red Devils had several sorties forward, their long-ball tactic giving them alternatives in the flanks but they could not trouble the City goalkeeper. Manchester City, in the meantime, commanded possession, probing their opponents and trying to draw them out of their organization.

Triple Strike

They made their pressure count with almost the first period played when Aoba Fujino won the home team a corner. A delivery to the far post was nodded across goal by Shaw for Knaak to nod home. It was Manchester City's 7th header of the campaign.

They added to their lead with an additional two goals just before the interval. When Jade Rose was allowed to drive through the middle from central defence, the field widened for the hosts. The key Kerstin Casparij received possession on the right side before sending a precise ground pass for Shaw to force home. Four minutes later, they had a third goal after a quick shift in possession saw Lauren Hemp given the opportunity to strike a effort home from outside the box.

Second Half

The primary adjustment came from the United manager at the interval as Melvine Malard came on for Terland but by this time it was too late to alter the outcome of the match. Former Manchester City player Park came most likely to score, rattling the upright, but the away team were lacking in ideas and were unable to record a one shot on goal.

The home side, meanwhile, could have added to their lead when a superb Vivianne Miedema pass 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 side who ended above them last season, the manager's side now have successes against Arsenal and United to position them in a favorable situation after the opening fixtures.