Man City 3-0 The Red Devils: Hemp finds the net in City dominant win.

Similar to bad weather hit the northwest the prior day, City overwhelmed Manchester United aside at the their home ground. It was a convincing 3-0 win for Andrée Jeglertz’s side thanks to goals from Rebecca Knaak, Bunny Shaw and Hemp. It was a result that clearly signaled their title credentials as they consolidated their place at the WSL pinnacle.

Back-to-Back Defeats for Manchester United

This scoreline represented successive league setbacks for the United manager's side for the initial occasion since last May, putting them seven points off the top team with their title hopes severely dented.

United’s capability to balance domestic and continental soccer with a small team has been a frequently analyzed issue since they earned a place in the Champions League. Looking at the fixture list, it always felt like this was the week that would fully examine this capability. Unfortunately for the away side, they seemed weary all game, the landmark win against PSG clearly having taken a toll.

Tactical Shifts

The United manager had sought to freshen things up with a a few changes. Toone, Elisabeth Terland, Janssen and Leah Galton all added freshness, although the omission of the in-form Malard to the bench raised a few eyebrows.

Manchester City, in contrast, have no such workload worries. Andrée Jeglertz made one adjustment from last week’s win over Everton with Lauren Hemp making her return to the lineup since recovering from injury.

Dominant First Half

The pressure started to accumulate for the United boss and his side from the opening minute. This was a show of the strength from Manchester City whose energetic offense controlled and pulled the visitors apart with a superb opening period display that saw them put three past the keeper in under half an hour.

This put the hosts completely dominant and saw the visitors all at sea. In advance of this fixture, the away side had conceded just few in this league campaign but they disintegrated in the presence of City’s offensive ingenuity.

Opening Threats

The warning signs came soon when Miedema used her strength to bundle Julia Zigiotti off the ball, only to drag her shot off target. Lauren Hemp was at the heart of everything in the beginning, taking advantage of the gap left by Jayde Riviere down the visitors' wing. Her crosses were causing problems and led to an opportunity for Yui Hasegawa that Sandberg cleared off the line.

The Red Devils had a number of attacks ahead, their straightforward approach giving them alternatives in the wings but they could not challenge the City goalkeeper. Manchester City, on the other hand, controlled the ball, probing their opponents and trying to lure them of their structure.

Goals Galore

They made their pressure count with almost the first period played when Aoba Fujino won the hosts a set-piece. A ball to the back post was directed across goal by Shaw for Rebecca Knaak to nod home. It was Manchester City's seventh headed goal of the season.

They extended their lead with an additional two goals just before the interval. When Rose was permitted to advance through the midfield from defense, the pitch opened up for City. The key Casparij received possession on the wing before sending a pinpoint low cross for Shaw to force home. A short time later, they had a third after a rapid shift in the ball saw Lauren Hemp allowed the opportunity to fire a attempt home from distance.

Final Period

The clearest adjustment came from the United manager at the half-time as Melvine Malard was introduced for Elisabeth Terland but by this time it was too late to alter the outcome of the contest. Former Manchester City player Park came most likely to score, striking the woodwork, but the visitors were creatively abject and did not manage to produce a single shot on target.

The home side, meanwhile, could have extended their advantage when a delightful Miedema long ball sent Bunny Shaw away only for her to miss the chance but it was insignificant to the hosts. Having failed to overcome any opponent who finished above them the previous campaign, the manager's side now have wins against the Gunners and Manchester United to position them in a strong position after nine matches.