Manchester City Three Goals to Nil Manchester United: Hemp finds the net in Manchester City dominant win.

Much like the recent storm tore through the northwest the previous evening, Manchester City swept the visitors aside at the their home ground. It was a emphatic three goal victory for the City coach's side due to goals from Rebecca Knaak, Bunny Shaw and Hemp. It was a display that firmly established their title credentials as they consolidated their standing at the WSL pinnacle.

Successive Defeats for United

This scoreline marked successive Women's Super League losses for Skinner's side for the maiden instance since last May, placing them a sizable gap off the top team with their championship aspirations hanging by a thread.

United’s capacity to manage league and European football with a thin roster has been a frequently analyzed issue since they secured entry to the European competition. Considering the calendar, it always seemed this was the week that would seriously challenge this fortitude. Unfortunately for the opposition, they appeared fatigued all game, the historic win against Paris Saint-Germain clearly having had an impact.

Team Changes

The United manager had tried to freshen things up with a several alterations. Toone, Terland, Dominique Janssen and Galton all added vigor, although the omission of the high-performing Melvine Malard to the bench caused surprise.

The hosts, in contrast, have no similar workload concerns. Jeglertz made a single alteration from the previous win over the Toffees with Lauren Hemp making her return to the lineup since recovering from a physical setback.

Dominant First Half

The storm clouds started to gather for the United boss and his team from the first whistle. This was a exhibition of the power from City whose potent offense controlled and pulled the visitors apart with a excellent initial 45 minutes display that saw them put three past the keeper in 21 minutes.

This left the home team firmly in control and left United disorganized. Prior to this encounter, the away side had allowed just few in this WSL season but they fell apart in the face of City’s creative prowess.

Initial Opportunities

The omens came soon when Vivianne Miedema used her strength to bundle Julia Zigiotti off the ball, only to drag her shot wide. Lauren Hemp was at the center of everything from the start, using the space left by Jayde Riviere down United’s wing. Her crosses were causing problems and led to an opportunity for Hasegawa that Anna Sandberg scrambled off the line.

The Red Devils had a number of attacks forwards, their direct style giving them alternatives in the wide areas but they could not trouble the City goalkeeper. City, on the other hand, dominated possession, teasing their rivals and trying to pull them out of their structure.

Triple Strike

They turned chances into goals with almost the first period played when Aoba Fujino won the home team a set-piece. A delivery to the far post was directed across goal by Shaw for Knaak to score. It was Manchester City's seventh goal from a cross of the campaign.

They increased their cushion with another pair of goals just before the break. When Jade Rose was allowed to advance through the middle from the back, the field opened up for City. The influential Kerstin Casparij picked the ball up on the wing before delivering a accurate low cross for Shaw to tap home. Shortly later, they had a third goal after a swift shift in the ball saw Lauren Hemp afforded the space to strike a attempt home from outside the box.

Second Half

The primary adjustment came from Skinner at the break as Melvine Malard was introduced for Elisabeth Terland but by this time it was too late to change the course of the match. Former Manchester City player Park came most likely to score, rattling the woodwork, but the away team were lacking in ideas and did not manage to record a one shot on goal.

The hosts, in contrast, could have added to their advantage when a delightful Vivianne Miedema long ball sent Shaw away only for her to miss the chance but it mattered little to the winning team. Having failed to defeat any team who ended above them the previous campaign, the manager's side now have wins against the Gunners and Manchester United to place them in a favorable situation after the opening fixtures.