Manchester City 3-0 Man United: Hemp scores in Manchester City comfortable victory.

Just as bad weather swept through the northwest the previous evening, City blew the visitors away at the Etihad Stadium. It was a statement three-nil triumph for the City coach's side thanks to goals from Rebecca Knaak, Shaw and Hemp. It was a performance that firmly established their title credentials as they strengthened their position at the top of the table.

Back-to-Back Defeats for Manchester United

This result represented consecutive WSL defeats for Skinner's side for the first time since last May, placing them a sizable gap off the top team with their title hopes severely dented.

United’s ability to balance domestic and European soccer with a limited roster has been a frequently analyzed topic since they qualified for the European competition. Considering the calendar, it always seemed this was the period that would truly test this fortitude. Unfortunately for the visitors, they seemed fatigued all game, the memorable win against the French side clearly having left its mark.

Lineup Adjustments

The United manager had attempted to freshen things up with a handful of alterations. Toone, Elisabeth Terland, Janssen and Leah Galton all brought vigor, although the omission of the in-form Melvine Malard to the substitutes raised a few eyebrows.

City, in opposition, have fewer loading concerns. Jeglertz made a single alteration from their most recent win over Everton with Hemp making her first start since returning from a physical setback.

Dominant First Half

The trouble started to accumulate for Skinner and his team from the opening minute. This was a show of the quality from City whose dynamic forward line controlled and tore United open with a sublime initial 45 minutes performance that saw them net a trio in under half an hour.

This put the hosts completely dominant and had Manchester United all at sea. Prior to this match, the away side had conceded just few in this WSL season but they collapsed in the face of the hosts' offensive ingenuity.

Early Chances

The warning signs came early when Miedema used her physicality to bundle Julia Zigiotti off the ball, only to pull her shot past the post. Hemp was at the core of everything in the beginning, using the space left by Jayde Riviere down the visitors' right side. Her passes were creating danger and led to an chance for Yui Hasegawa that Sandberg scrambled off the line.

The Red Devils had a number of forays forward, their direct style giving them options in the wings but they could not test Yamashita. Manchester City, in the meantime, dominated possession, teasing their opposition and trying to draw them out of their organization.

Scoring Spree

They converted their dominance with almost thirty minutes played when Fujino won the hosts a set-piece. A delivery to the back post was nodded across goal by Bunny Shaw for Rebecca Knaak to head in. It was Manchester City's 7th header of the campaign.

They extended their cushion with two more goals just before the break. When Rose was permitted to advance through the midfield from the back, the play became spacious for the hosts. The prominent Kerstin Casparij collected the pass on the wing before providing a precise low cross for Shaw to tap home. A short time later, they had a third after a swift change in the ball saw Lauren Hemp given the room to drive a effort home from range.

Second Half

The most obvious change came from Skinner at the half-time as Melvine Malard was introduced for Terland but by this time it was futile to shift the momentum of the game. Ex- Manchester City player Jess Park came nearest, hitting the upright, but the visitors were lacking in ideas and did not manage to record a single shot on target.

The home side, on the other hand, could have added to their cushion when a excellent Vivianne Miedema pass sent Shaw away only for her to fluff her lines but it mattered little to the winning team. Having failed to beat any opponent who ended above them the previous campaign, Jeglertz’s side now have wins against the Gunners and United to place them in a favorable position after the opening fixtures.