🔗 Share this article

Just as Storm Claudia swept through the north-west the night before, Manchester City overwhelmed United aside at the Etihad Stadium. It was a statement three-nil victory for their manager's side thanks to goals from Knaak, Shaw and Hemp. It was a performance that clearly signaled their leadership claims as they reinforced their position at the league summit.

Consecutive Defeats for Manchester United

This result signalled successive league setbacks for Marc Skinner’s side for the first time since last May, putting them a significant margin off the top team with their title hopes in serious doubt.

United’s ability to balance domestic and continental soccer with a small squad has been a hotly discussed subject since they earned a place in the UCL. Considering the fixture list, it always seemed this was the matchday that would fully examine this ability. Sadly for the away side, they seemed fatigued all game, the landmark win against PSG clearly having left its mark.

Tactical Shifts

Skinner had sought to make changes with a a few alterations. Ella Toone, Terland, Janssen and Leah Galton all provided energy, although the omission of the high-performing Melvine Malard to the substitutes was questioned.

City, in comparison, have no similar workload concerns. The City coach made one adjustment from their most recent win over Everton with Hemp making her return to the lineup since recovering from injury.

Dominant First Half

The storm clouds started to build for Skinner and his squad from the first whistle. This was a exhibition of the power from Manchester City whose dynamic attack manipulated and tore United open with a sublime opening period showing that saw them put three past the keeper in 21 minutes.

This placed City completely dominant and had Manchester United disorganized. Prior to this fixture, United had allowed just few in this domestic competition but they disintegrated in the presence of Manchester City's attacking flair.

Opening Threats

The early indicators came soon when Vivianne Miedema used her physicality to push Zigiotti off the ball, only to pull her shot wide. Lauren Hemp was at the center of everything in the beginning, using the space left by Riviere down United’s wing. Her deliveries were posing a threat and led to an chance for Yui Hasegawa that Anna Sandberg scrambled off the line.

United had a number of sorties forward, their straightforward approach giving them choices in the wide areas but they could not test Ayaka Yamashita. Manchester City, on the other hand, dominated possession, teasing their opponents and trying to lure them of their organization.

Scoring Spree

They converted their dominance with almost the first period played when Fujino won the hosts a corner. A ball to the far post was headed across goal by Bunny Shaw for Knaak to nod home. It was City’s seventh header of the season.

They extended their cushion with another pair of goals just before the interval. When Jade Rose was able to maraud through the center from the back, the play widened for City. The prominent Kerstin Casparij received possession on the right side before delivering a precise driven ball for Shaw to force home. Four minutes later, they had a third goal after a swift shift in the ball saw Hemp afforded the space to drive a attempt home from range.

Second Half

The most obvious change came from the United manager at the break as Malard entered for Terland but by this time it was ineffective to alter the outcome of the game. Former Manchester City player Park came most likely to score, rattling the woodwork, but the away team were lacking in ideas and did not manage to register a one shot on goal.

The hosts, on the other hand, could have extended their lead when a delightful Vivianne Miedema long ball sent Shaw away only for her to fluff her lines but it did not affect the result to the hosts. After failing to overcome any team who ended above them the previous campaign, City's side now have victories against the Gunners and Manchester United to position them in a strong situation after nine games.