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Much like the recent storm hit the northwest the night before, the home side swept Manchester United away at the Etihad Stadium. It was a statement three-nil triumph for Andrée Jeglertz’s side owing to goals from Knaak, Bunny Shaw and Lauren Hemp. It was a performance that firmly established their championship potential as they consolidated their position at the league summit.

Successive Losses for United

This outcome marked successive Women's Super League setbacks for Skinner's side for the first time since last May, placing them a significant margin off the top team with their championship aspirations severely dented.

The Red Devils' capacity to juggle league and continental soccer with a limited squad has been a widely debated topic since they earned a place in the Champions League. Looking at the calendar, it always appeared this was the matchday that would truly test this capability. Unfortunately for the opposition, they looked weary all game, the landmark win against the French side clearly having had an impact.

Lineup Adjustments

Skinner had sought to rotate the squad with a a few adjustments. Toone, Elisabeth Terland, Janssen and Galton all added vigor, although the dropping of the high-performing Melvine Malard to the substitutes was questioned.

The hosts, in opposition, have no such fitness concerns. Andrée Jeglertz made one adjustment from last week’s win over the Toffees with Lauren Hemp making her return to the lineup since returning from injury.

Dominant First Half

The pressure started to build for Skinner and his team from the first whistle. This was a exhibition of the quality from Manchester City whose energetic offense controlled and dismantled the opposition with a superb initial 45 minutes performance that saw them put three past the keeper in under half an hour.

This placed City completely dominant and had Manchester United disorganized. Before this fixture, the away side had allowed just few in this league campaign but they disintegrated in the presence of the hosts' offensive ingenuity.

Early Chances

The early indicators came soon when Vivianne Miedema used her power to bundle Zigiotti off the ball, only to pull her shot past the post. Lauren Hemp was at the heart of everything from the start, taking advantage of the space left by Riviere down the visitors' wing. Her deliveries were causing problems and led to an opportunity for Yui Hasegawa that Anna Sandberg scrambled off the line.

United had a number of attacks forward, their direct style giving them alternatives in the flanks but they could not challenge the City goalkeeper. City, in the meantime, commanded possession, probing their rivals and trying to draw them out of their structure.

Triple Strike

They made their pressure count with almost half an hour played when Fujino won the hosts a set-piece. A ball to the far post was nodded across goal by Shaw for Rebecca Knaak to head in. It was Manchester City's seventh goal from a cross of the campaign.

They added to their advantage with another pair of goals just before the break. When Rose was able to advance through the midfield from central defence, the play opened up for City. The key Casparij picked the ball up on the wing before sending a accurate low cross for Bunny Shaw to tap home. Shortly later, they had a third goal after a quick change in possession saw Lauren Hemp allowed the opportunity to strike a shot home from outside the box.

Second Half

The clearest substitution came from the United manager at the break as Melvine Malard was introduced for Terland but by this time it was too late to change the course of the game. Former Manchester City player Jess Park came nearest, rattling the upright, but the away team were creatively abject and were unable to record a single shot on goal.

The hosts, in contrast, could have increased their advantage when a excellent Vivianne Miedema through ball sent Bunny Shaw away only for her to fluff her lines but it mattered little to the hosts. Having failed to defeat any side who ended above them in the prior term, City's side now have wins against Arsenal and United to place them in a favorable position after nine matches.