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Similar to the recent storm hit the northern region the prior day, the home side blew the visitors away at the their home ground. It was a statement three goal triumph for Andrée Jeglertz’s side thanks to goals from Knaak, Shaw and Hemp. It was a performance that truly announced their championship potential as they strengthened their place at the WSL pinnacle.

Consecutive Losses for United

This result represented back-to-back league defeats for Marc Skinner’s side for the initial occasion since last May, placing them seven points off the top team with their title hopes in serious doubt.

Manchester United's ability to juggle league and European football with a limited team has been a frequently analyzed topic since they secured entry to the UCL. Considering the fixture list, it always seemed this was the period that would truly test this ability. Regrettably for the opposition, they looked tired all game, the memorable win against Paris Saint-Germain clearly having left its mark.

Tactical Shifts

The United manager had attempted to rotate the squad with a handful of changes. Toone, Elisabeth Terland, Janssen and Leah Galton all brought energy, although the exclusion of the high-performing Malard to the bench raised a few eyebrows.

Manchester City, in comparison, have no similar loading issues. Andrée Jeglertz made one adjustment from the previous win over the Toffees with Lauren Hemp making her initial starting appearance since returning from a fitness issue.

Dominant First Half

The trouble started to build for the United boss and his squad from the first whistle. This was a exhibition of the strength from Manchester City whose potent attack played with and pulled the visitors apart with a sublime initial 45 minutes showing that saw them score three goals in under half an hour.

This left the home team firmly in control and saw the visitors struggling. In advance of this encounter, the away side had let in just a handful in this WSL season but they fell apart in the wake of City’s offensive ingenuity.

Initial Opportunities

The early indicators came quickly when Miedema used her physicality to muscle Julia Zigiotti off the ball, only to pull her shot off target. Lauren Hemp was at the heart of everything early on, using the space left by Jayde Riviere down the visitors' right flank. Her deliveries were causing problems and led to an opportunity for Hasegawa that Sandberg kicked off the line.

United had several sorties forwards, their straightforward approach giving them options in the flanks but they could not test Yamashita. Manchester City, on the other hand, dominated possession, teasing their opposition and trying to draw them out of their organization.

Triple Strike

They made their pressure count with almost the first period played when Aoba Fujino won the home team a set-piece. A delivery to the back post was headed across goal by Bunny Shaw for Rebecca Knaak to nod home. It was Manchester City's 7th goal from a cross of the campaign.

They extended their cushion with two more goals just before the half-time. When Jade Rose was allowed to maraud through the midfield from defense, the play widened for City. The influential Casparij collected the pass on the right before sending a pinpoint low cross for Bunny Shaw to tap home. Four minutes later, they had a third after a quick shift in possession saw Hemp given the room to drive a effort home from outside the box.

Final Period

The clearest substitution came from the United manager at the interval as Malard came on for Elisabeth Terland but by this time it was futile to alter the outcome of the game. Former Manchester City player Park came closest, hitting the post, but the away team were lacking in ideas and failed to register a single shot on goal.

The hosts, meanwhile, could have extended their advantage when a delightful Vivianne Miedema long ball sent Shaw away only for her to fluff her lines but it mattered little to the hosts. Having failed to overcome any opponent who ended above them the previous campaign, the manager's side now have victories against Arsenal and Manchester United to place them in a commanding position after the opening fixtures.