🔗 Share this article

Much like bad weather tore through the northern region the night before, City overwhelmed Manchester United away at the their home ground. It was a statement three goal win for Andrée Jeglertz’s side due to goals from Knaak, Bunny Shaw and Lauren Hemp. It was a result that clearly signaled their championship potential as they reinforced their standing at the league summit.

Back-to-Back Defeats for United

This result represented back-to-back league losses for Marc Skinner’s side for the initial occasion since last May, leaving them a sizable gap off the table toppers with their championship aspirations severely dented.

Manchester United's capability to balance domestic and European football with a limited team has been a hotly discussed subject since they secured entry to the UCL. Reviewing the calendar, it always seemed this was the period that would seriously challenge this ability. Sadly for the visitors, they looked fatigued all game, the historic win against PSG clearly having taken a toll.

Lineup Adjustments

The United manager had attempted to freshen things up with a handful of changes. Toone, Elisabeth Terland, Dominique Janssen and Galton all provided freshness, although the exclusion of the on-form Malard to the bench caused surprise.

City, in comparison, have no such fitness worries. Andrée Jeglertz made a single alteration from their most recent win over Everton with Hemp making her return to the lineup since healing from a fitness issue.

Overpowering Start

The trouble started to accumulate for Skinner and his team from the opening minute. This was a exhibition of the quality from City whose energetic offense controlled and tore United open with a sublime initial 45 minutes showing that saw them net a trio in just over twenty minutes.

This left the home team in a commanding position and saw the visitors disorganized. Before this match, the away side had conceded just few in this WSL season but they collapsed in the face of Manchester City's offensive ingenuity.

Initial Opportunities

The omens came quickly when Vivianne Miedema used her power to bundle Zigiotti off the ball, only to send her shot past the post. Hemp was at the center of everything early on, exploiting the room left by Riviere down United’s right side. Her deliveries were causing problems and led to an attempt for Yui Hasegawa that Anna Sandberg kicked off the line.

United had a number of attacks forward, their straightforward approach giving them alternatives in the flanks but they could not test Ayaka Yamashita. City, meanwhile, dominated the ball, teasing their rivals and trying to draw them out of their defensive shape.

Scoring Spree

They converted their dominance with almost the first period played when Aoba Fujino won the home team a corner. A cross to the back post was directed across goal by Bunny Shaw for Knaak to score. It was City’s 7th header of the season.

They added to their advantage with two more goals just before the interval. When Jade Rose was allowed to drive through the center from defense, the pitch became spacious for the hosts. The influential Casparij received possession on the right before sending a accurate driven ball for Shaw to force home. Four minutes later, they had a third goal after a quick shift in possession saw Hemp allowed the space to fire a effort home from range.

Final Period

The clearest change came from the United manager at the interval as Malard was introduced for Terland but by this time it was futile to alter the outcome of the match. Former City player Jess Park came closest, striking the woodwork, but the visitors were lacking in ideas and did not manage to produce a solitary shot on target.

The home side, meanwhile, could have extended their lead when a delightful Miedema pass sent Bunny Shaw away only for her to fluff her lines but it mattered little to the winning team. Previously unable to beat any side who ended above them the previous campaign, Jeglertz’s side now have successes against Arsenal and United to put them in a strong position after nine matches.