Manchester City Three-Nil Man United: Lauren Hemp finds the net in City stroll.

Similar to bad weather hit the northwest the night before, Manchester City blew United aside at the their home ground. It was a convincing three-nil triumph for the City coach's side due to goals from Rebecca Knaak, Bunny Shaw and Lauren Hemp. It was a result that truly announced their leadership claims as they strengthened their position at the league summit.

Back-to-Back Setbacks for United

This scoreline marked successive league defeats for Marc Skinner’s side for the initial occasion since last May, leaving them seven points off the league leaders with their trophy ambitions in serious doubt.

The Red Devils' capability to juggle league and European football with a limited team has been a widely debated subject since they secured entry to the European competition. Reviewing the calendar, it always appeared this was the week that would seriously challenge this ability. Regrettably for the away side, they appeared fatigued all game, the memorable win against Paris Saint-Germain clearly having taken a toll.

Tactical Shifts

Marc Skinner had tried to rotate the squad with a a few adjustments. Toone, Terland, Janssen and Galton all added vigor, although the omission of the high-performing Malard to the bench raised a few eyebrows.

Manchester City, in comparison, have fewer loading worries. The City coach made one adjustment from the previous win over the Toffees with Lauren Hemp making her return to the lineup since returning from a fitness issue.

Commanding Opening Period

The trouble started to build for Skinner and his squad from the first whistle. This was a exhibition of the power from Manchester City whose dynamic forward line manipulated and tore United open with a superb initial 45 minutes display that saw them put three past the keeper in under half an hour.

This left the home team firmly in control and had Manchester United struggling. Prior to this match, the away side had let in just a handful in this domestic competition but they collapsed in the face of the hosts' creative prowess.

Early Chances

The early indicators came early when Miedema used her power to push Julia Zigiotti off the ball, only to send her shot past the post. Lauren Hemp was at the heart of everything in the beginning, using the gap left by Riviere down the visitors' wing. Her crosses were causing problems and led to an opportunity for Hasegawa that Anna Sandberg scrambled off the line.

United had a number of sorties forwards, their straightforward approach giving them choices in the wide areas but they could not test the City goalkeeper. City, in the meantime, controlled possession, probing their rivals and trying to draw them out of their structure.

Scoring Spree

They converted their dominance with almost half an hour played when Fujino won the home team a corner. A delivery to the back post was headed across goal by Bunny Shaw for Knaak to score. It was Manchester City's 7th goal from a cross of the term.

They increased their advantage with another pair of goals just before the break. When Jade Rose was able to maraud through the center from defense, the play became spacious for City. The influential Kerstin Casparij received possession on the right side before providing a accurate ground pass for Shaw to force home. Shortly later, they had a additional score after a swift shift in possession saw Lauren Hemp afforded the space to fire a attempt home from distance.

Final Period

The primary adjustment came from the United manager at the half-time as Melvine Malard was introduced for Terland but by this time it was ineffective to change the course of the game. Former Manchester City player Park came nearest, striking the woodwork, but the visitors were offensively poor and were unable to record a solitary shot on goal.

The hosts, in contrast, could have increased their cushion when a superb Miedema long ball sent Bunny Shaw away only for her to fail to convert but it did not affect the result to the winning team. Having failed to overcome any opponent who ended above them in the prior term, the manager's side now have successes against the Gunners and Manchester United to position them in a commanding standing after the opening fixtures.