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Just as Storm Claudia swept through the northern region the prior day, the home side blew Manchester United aside at the Etihad. It was a convincing three-nil triumph for the City coach's side thanks to goals from Knaak, Bunny Shaw and Lauren Hemp. It was a performance that truly announced their leadership claims as they strengthened their place at the WSL pinnacle.

Successive Losses for United

This scoreline signalled successive WSL losses for Marc Skinner’s side for the first time since last May, putting them seven points off the league leaders with their championship aspirations hanging by a thread.

The Red Devils' capability to balance domestic and continental football with a small roster has been a frequently analyzed subject since they secured entry to the Champions League. Looking at the fixture list, it always appeared this was the week that would fully examine this ability. Sadly for the visitors, they looked tired from start to finish, the landmark win against Paris Saint-Germain clearly having left its mark.

Lineup Adjustments

The United manager had tried to rotate the squad with a several adjustments. Toone, Terland, Janssen and Galton all provided vigor, although the dropping of the high-performing Melvine Malard to the bench was questioned.

City, in comparison, have no similar loading concerns. Andrée Jeglertz made one adjustment from the previous win over Everton with Lauren Hemp making her initial starting appearance since recovering from injury.

Overpowering Start

The trouble started to build for the United boss and his squad from the first whistle. This was a exhibition of the power from Manchester City whose dynamic offense played with and pulled the visitors apart with a excellent opening period performance that saw them net a trio in under half an hour.

This left the home team in a commanding position and saw the visitors disorganized. Prior to this match, the away side had conceded just few in this WSL season but they fell apart in the presence of Manchester City's creative prowess.

Opening Threats

The early indicators came soon when Miedema used her strength to bundle Zigiotti off the ball, only to send her shot wide. Lauren Hemp was at the heart of everything from the start, taking advantage of the space left by Jayde Riviere down the visitors' right side. Her deliveries were causing problems and led to an opportunity for Hasegawa that Sandberg kicked off the line.

The Red Devils had multiple sorties ahead, their long-ball tactic giving them choices in the flanks but they could not challenge the City goalkeeper. Manchester City, in the meantime, controlled the ball, taunting their opposition and trying to lure them of their structure.

Goals Galore

They made their pressure count with almost thirty minutes played when Fujino won the home team a set-piece. A ball to the back post was nodded across goal by Bunny Shaw for Rebecca Knaak to nod home. It was City’s seventh header of the campaign.

They extended their lead with another pair of goals just before the interval. When Rose was allowed to maraud through the middle from central defence, the field widened for City. The key Kerstin Casparij received possession on the wing before providing a pinpoint driven ball for Bunny Shaw to tap home. A short time later, they had a third after a quick change in the ball saw Lauren Hemp afforded the opportunity to drive a attempt home from outside the box.

After the Break

The most obvious substitution came from Skinner at the break as Malard entered for Elisabeth Terland but by this time it was ineffective to alter the outcome of the match. Ex- City player Jess Park came closest, rattling the woodwork, but the visitors were offensively poor and were unable to record a one shot on goal.

The hosts, on the other hand, could have increased their cushion when a delightful Vivianne Miedema through ball sent Shaw away only for her to fluff her lines but it did not affect the result to the hosts. Having failed to defeat any opponent who ended above them in the prior term, City's side now have wins against Arsenal and United to position them in a commanding position after nine matches.