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Much like the recent storm swept through the northern region the prior day, City overwhelmed Manchester United aside at the their home ground. It was a convincing three-nil victory for the City coach's side thanks to goals from Knaak, Bunny Shaw and Lauren Hemp. It was a display that truly announced their championship potential as they consolidated their place at the WSL pinnacle.

Consecutive Setbacks for United

This scoreline represented back-to-back Women's Super League losses for the United manager's side for the first time since last May, placing them seven points off the top team with their championship aspirations in serious doubt.

United’s capacity to manage league and continental soccer with a thin team has been a frequently analyzed issue since they secured entry to the UCL. Looking at the fixture list, it always seemed this was the period that would truly test this fortitude. Regrettably for the visitors, they seemed fatigued all game, the landmark win against Paris Saint-Germain clearly having had an impact.

Tactical Shifts

Skinner had sought to rotate the squad with a a few adjustments. Toone, Elisabeth Terland, Dominique Janssen and Leah Galton all provided freshness, although the dropping of the in-form Malard to the bench raised a few eyebrows.

Manchester City, in comparison, have no such fitness worries. The City coach made one change from the previous win over Everton with Lauren Hemp making her initial starting appearance since recovering from a physical setback.

Overpowering Start

The trouble started to build for the United boss and his team from the opening minute. This was a demonstration of the quality from Manchester City whose dynamic offense manipulated and tore United open with a sublime initial 45 minutes showing that saw them put three past the keeper in 21 minutes.

This left the home team completely dominant and left United disorganized. Prior to this match, the away side had let in just a handful in this WSL season but they disintegrated in the wake of Manchester City's offensive ingenuity.

Early Chances

The omens came quickly when Vivianne Miedema used her physicality to push Julia Zigiotti off the ball, only to drag her shot past the post. Hemp was at the heart of everything in the beginning, using the gap left by Riviere down the visitors' right flank. Her deliveries were causing problems and led to an opportunity for Yui Hasegawa that Anna Sandberg cleared off the line.

United had several forays ahead, their straightforward approach giving them options in the wide areas but they could not trouble Yamashita. Manchester City, on the other hand, commanded possession, teasing their opponents and trying to lure them of their defensive shape.

Scoring Spree

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

They extended their advantage with two more goals just before the half-time. When Jade Rose was able to maraud through the midfield from the back, the field opened up for City. The key Kerstin Casparij received possession on the right side before delivering a pinpoint low cross for Shaw to force home. Four minutes later, they had a third goal after a rapid shift in the ball saw Hemp allowed the opportunity to fire a attempt home from distance.

Second Half

The most obvious adjustment came from Skinner at the half-time as Malard entered for Elisabeth Terland but by this time it was too late to alter the outcome of the match. Former Manchester City player Jess Park came nearest, striking the woodwork, but the away team were creatively abject and were unable to register a single shot on goal.

The home side, on the other hand, could have added to their lead when a excellent Vivianne Miedema long ball sent Bunny Shaw away only for her to fluff her lines but it did not affect the result to the hosts. Having failed to overcome any team who placed above them the previous campaign, the manager's side now have victories against Arsenal and Manchester United to position them in a commanding situation after nine matches.