Man City Three Goals to Nil Man United: Hemp on target in Manchester City dominant win.

Much like Storm Claudia hit the north-west the night before, City overwhelmed United aside at the their home ground. It was a statement three goal triumph for the City coach's side due to goals from Rebecca Knaak, Shaw and Lauren Hemp. It was a result that truly announced their title credentials as they consolidated their standing at the league summit.

Back-to-Back Losses for United

This scoreline represented back-to-back league losses for the United manager's side for the maiden instance since last May, leaving them a significant margin off the top team with their trophy ambitions in serious doubt.

Manchester United's ability to balance league and European football with a thin team has been a widely debated topic since they qualified for the Champions League. Looking at the fixture list, it always seemed this was the period that would fully examine this fortitude. Regrettably for the away side, they appeared fatigued all game, the landmark win against PSG clearly having had an impact.

Tactical Shifts

The United manager had sought to freshen things up with a a few changes. Ella Toone, Terland, Dominique Janssen and Galton all provided vigor, although the dropping of the in-form Melvine Malard to the bench was questioned.

City, in comparison, have no similar loading issues. Jeglertz made a single alteration from their most recent win over Everton with Lauren Hemp making her initial starting appearance since returning from a physical setback.

Commanding Opening Period

The pressure started to build for Skinner and his squad from the first whistle. This was a demonstration of the strength from City whose energetic offense controlled and pulled the visitors apart with a excellent first half performance that saw them put three past the keeper in 21 minutes.

This put the hosts completely dominant and saw the visitors disorganized. In advance of this encounter, United had allowed just six in this domestic competition but they disintegrated in the wake of Manchester City's attacking flair.

Opening Threats

The warning signs came soon when Vivianne Miedema used her physicality to muscle Julia Zigiotti off the ball, only to drag her shot past the post. Lauren Hemp was at the core of everything in the beginning, exploiting the gap left by Jayde Riviere down United’s wing. Her deliveries were posing a threat and led to an opportunity for Yui Hasegawa that Anna Sandberg kicked off the line.

United had a number of sorties forwards, their long-ball tactic giving them choices in the wide areas but they could not challenge the City goalkeeper. City, on the other hand, dominated the ball, taunting their opponents and trying to draw them out of their structure.

Triple Strike

They made their pressure count with almost the first period played when Fujino won the home team a set-piece. A ball to the far post was directed across goal by Shaw for Knaak to nod home. It was City’s 7th header of the campaign.

They added to their lead with an additional two goals just before the break. When Jade Rose was permitted to drive through the middle from central defence, the field opened up for the hosts. The key Casparij picked the ball up on the wing before providing a accurate driven ball for Bunny Shaw to bundle home. A short time later, they had a third goal after a rapid turnover in possession saw Lauren Hemp allowed the space to drive a effort home from outside the box.

Final Period

The most obvious substitution came from the United manager at the break as Malard was introduced for Elisabeth Terland but by this time it was ineffective to shift the momentum of the game. Ex- Manchester City player Jess Park came most likely to score, striking the post, but the visitors were creatively abject and were unable to register a single shot on goal.

The hosts, in contrast, could have extended their lead when a delightful Miedema pass sent Bunny Shaw away only for her to miss the chance but it mattered little to the hosts. After failing to defeat any opponent who ended above them in the prior term, the manager's side now have wins against the Gunners and Manchester United to put them in a favorable position after nine games.