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Much like bad weather swept through the northern region the previous evening, City blew the visitors aside at the Etihad Stadium. It was a emphatic three-nil win for the City coach's side owing to goals from Knaak, Shaw and Lauren Hemp. It was a performance that clearly signaled their championship potential as they consolidated their standing at the top of the table.

Successive Defeats for United

This result marked successive Women's Super League defeats for Skinner's side for the maiden instance since last May, leaving them a significant margin off the top team with their trophy ambitions hanging by a thread.

United’s ability to balance domestic and continental football with a thin team has been a frequently analyzed issue since they earned a place in the European competition. Reviewing the schedule, it always appeared this was the week that would seriously challenge this capability. Regrettably for the visitors, they appeared weary throughout, the historic win against PSG clearly having left its mark.

Team Changes

Marc Skinner had attempted to make changes with a handful of changes. Ella Toone, Terland, Dominique Janssen and Galton all provided vigor, although the dropping of the in-form Malard to the substitutes raised a few eyebrows.

City, in comparison, have no similar fitness worries. The City coach made one change from last week’s win over the Toffees with Hemp making her first start since recovering from a physical setback.

Overpowering Start

The storm clouds started to accumulate for the United boss and his team from the opening minute. This was a demonstration of the strength from Manchester City whose potent offense played with and pulled the visitors apart with a sublime opening period performance that saw them net a trio in 21 minutes.

This placed City in a commanding position and had Manchester United disorganized. Before this fixture, United had conceded just a handful in this WSL season but they disintegrated in the presence of City’s creative prowess.

Early Chances

The warning signs came soon when Vivianne Miedema used her physicality to bundle Zigiotti off the ball, only to send her shot off target. Hemp was at the center of everything in the beginning, using the room left by Riviere down the visitors' wing. Her deliveries were creating danger and led to an attempt for Yui Hasegawa that Sandberg kicked off the line.

United had several forays forwards, their direct style giving them choices in the wide areas but they could not challenge Ayaka Yamashita. Manchester City, meanwhile, controlled the ball, teasing their opposition and trying to draw them out of their organization.

Scoring Spree

They turned chances into goals with almost half an hour played when Fujino won the hosts a set-piece. A cross to the far post was nodded across goal by Shaw for Knaak to nod home. It was Manchester City's 7th header of the campaign.

They extended their cushion with an additional two goals just before the break. When Rose was able to advance through the midfield from defense, the field widened for the hosts. The key Casparij picked the ball up on the wing before providing a precise ground pass for Shaw to force home. Four minutes later, they had a additional score after a quick turnover in possession saw Lauren Hemp allowed the room to strike a effort home from distance.

Second Half

The clearest substitution came from the United manager at the half-time as Melvine Malard came on for Elisabeth Terland but by this time it was ineffective to shift the momentum of the contest. Former Manchester City player Jess Park came most likely to score, striking the upright, but the visitors were lacking in ideas and failed to register a solitary shot on target.

The home side, on the other hand, could have increased their lead when a excellent Vivianne Miedema through ball sent Shaw away only for her to fail to convert but it mattered little to the hosts. Having failed to overcome any team who placed above them last season, the manager's side now have wins against the Gunners and Manchester United to position them in a commanding position after the opening fixtures.