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Much like bad weather hit the northern region the previous evening, City swept Manchester United away at the their home ground. It was a emphatic three-nil win for Andrée Jeglertz’s side due to goals from Knaak, Shaw and Hemp. It was a result that firmly established their championship potential as they strengthened their place at the league summit.

Back-to-Back Losses for Manchester United

This outcome signalled consecutive league losses for the United manager's side for the first time since last May, placing them a sizable gap off the top team with their title hopes severely dented.

Manchester United's ability to balance league and European football with a thin team has been a hotly discussed subject since they earned a place in the UCL. Considering the schedule, it always felt like this was the matchday that would fully examine this ability. Regrettably for the visitors, they looked weary all game, the landmark win against PSG clearly having had an impact.

Lineup Adjustments

Skinner had tried to freshen things up with a several adjustments. Ella Toone, Elisabeth Terland, Dominique Janssen and Leah Galton all added energy, although the omission of the in-form Melvine Malard to the bench raised a few eyebrows.

City, in opposition, have no similar workload worries. The City coach made a single alteration from last week’s win over Everton with Lauren Hemp making her initial starting appearance since healing from a physical setback.

Overpowering Start

The storm clouds started to gather for the United boss and his squad from the first whistle. This was a show of the power from Manchester City whose potent attack played with and tore United open with a sublime first half display that saw them put three past the keeper in just over twenty minutes.

This put the hosts completely dominant and had Manchester United disorganized. In advance of this match, the away side had allowed just six in this league campaign but they disintegrated in the wake of Manchester City's attacking flair.

Early Chances

The omens came early when Miedema used her strength to push Julia Zigiotti off the ball, only to send her shot off target. Hemp was at the heart of everything from the start, using the space left by Riviere down United’s right flank. Her crosses were posing a threat and led to an attempt for Hasegawa that Sandberg scrambled off the line.

The Red Devils had a number of attacks forward, their direct style giving them alternatives in the flanks but they could not test Yamashita. Manchester City, on the other hand, controlled possession, teasing their rivals and trying to pull them out of their structure.

Triple Strike

They converted their dominance with almost half an hour played when Fujino won the hosts a set-piece. A delivery to the back post was headed across goal by Shaw for Knaak to head in. It was City’s seventh goal from a cross of the term.

They added to their cushion with an additional two goals just before the half-time. When Rose was allowed to advance through the midfield from the back, the play opened up for City. The key Casparij received possession on the right before sending a precise low cross for Bunny Shaw to tap home. A short time later, they had a third goal after a quick turnover in possession saw Lauren Hemp allowed the room to drive a shot home from range.

Second Half

The most obvious substitution came from the United manager at the half-time as Malard entered for Terland but by this time it was too late to change the course of the game. Former City player Park came most likely to score, rattling the post, but the away team were lacking in ideas and were unable to record a one shot on target.

The hosts, in contrast, could have added to their cushion when a excellent Miedema long ball sent Shaw away only for her to miss the chance but it did not affect the result to the hosts. Previously unable to defeat any opponent who ended above them last season, the manager's side now have wins against Arsenal and Manchester United to place them in a strong situation after nine matches.