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Just as the recent storm swept through the northern region the prior day, Manchester City swept the visitors away at the their home ground. It was a convincing three-nil win for their manager's side owing to goals from Knaak, Shaw and Lauren Hemp. It was a performance that clearly signaled their leadership claims as they consolidated their position at the WSL pinnacle.

Back-to-Back Losses for United

This scoreline represented consecutive Women's Super League defeats for Marc Skinner’s side for the first time since last May, placing them a significant margin off the top team with their trophy ambitions in serious doubt.

The Red Devils' ability to juggle league and continental football with a small roster has been a frequently analyzed issue since they earned a place in the Champions League. Looking at the calendar, it always seemed this was the period that would fully examine this ability. Sadly for the opposition, they looked fatigued all game, the historic win against Paris Saint-Germain clearly having taken a toll.

Team Changes

Marc Skinner had attempted to freshen things up with a a few changes. Ella Toone, Elisabeth Terland, Janssen and Leah Galton all added energy, although the omission of the on-form Malard to the substitutes was questioned.

City, in comparison, have no similar loading issues. Andrée Jeglertz made one change from last week’s win over the Toffees with Lauren Hemp making her first start since recovering from injury.

Overpowering Start

The trouble started to gather for Skinner and his squad from the opening minute. This was a demonstration of the strength from Manchester City whose energetic offense played with and dismantled the opposition with a superb initial 45 minutes showing that saw them put three past the keeper in just over twenty minutes.

This put the hosts completely dominant and had Manchester United struggling. Before this match, the away side had let in just a handful in this WSL season but they fell apart in the face of Manchester City's creative prowess.

Opening Threats

The omens came early when Vivianne Miedema used her power to bundle Julia Zigiotti off the ball, only to drag her shot wide. Hemp was at the core of everything early on, exploiting the gap left by Jayde Riviere down the visitors' right side. Her crosses were causing problems and led to an attempt for Yui Hasegawa that Anna Sandberg kicked off the line.

The Red Devils had several sorties forwards, their direct style giving them choices in the wide areas but they could not trouble Yamashita. Manchester City, in the meantime, controlled possession, taunting their opposition and trying to pull them out of their defensive shape.

Triple Strike

They made their pressure count with almost half an hour played when Fujino won the hosts a set-piece. A ball to the back post was nodded across goal by Shaw for Knaak to nod home. It was Manchester City's 7th headed goal of the term.

They increased their advantage with an additional two goals just before the half-time. When Jade Rose was allowed to drive through the center from central defence, the field widened for City. The influential Kerstin Casparij received possession on the right side before sending a accurate driven ball for Shaw to force home. Shortly later, they had a additional score after a rapid turnover in possession saw Lauren Hemp given the opportunity to drive a attempt home from range.

After the Break

The clearest adjustment came from Skinner at the break as Malard was introduced for Elisabeth Terland but by this time it was too late to shift the momentum of the match. Ex- City player Jess Park came nearest, rattling the upright, but the away team were offensively poor and failed to register a single shot on goal.

The home side, in contrast, could have added to their lead when a superb Vivianne Miedema through ball sent Bunny Shaw away only for her to fail to convert but it was insignificant to the hosts. After failing to defeat any side who finished above them the previous campaign, Jeglertz’s side now have victories against the Gunners and United to place them in a strong standing after the opening fixtures.