Manchester City 3-0 The Red Devils: Hemp finds the net in Manchester City stroll.

Much like Storm Claudia hit the northern region the night before, City blew the visitors aside at the Etihad. It was a statement 3-0 win for the City coach's side owing to goals from Rebecca Knaak, Bunny Shaw and Hemp. It was a performance that truly announced their leadership claims as they strengthened their standing at the league summit.

Back-to-Back Defeats for Manchester United

This result marked back-to-back Women's Super League losses for Marc Skinner’s side for the initial occasion since last May, placing them seven points off the top team with their trophy ambitions severely dented.

United’s capability to juggle league and European football with a small team has been a frequently analyzed subject since they secured entry to the UCL. Considering the fixture list, it always appeared this was the period that would seriously challenge this ability. Regrettably for the visitors, they looked tired from start to finish, the landmark win against Paris Saint-Germain clearly having taken a toll.

Tactical Shifts

The United manager had sought to make changes with a handful of changes. Ella Toone, Elisabeth Terland, Janssen and Galton all brought energy, although the omission of the in-form Melvine Malard to the bench caused surprise.

City, in opposition, have fewer loading worries. The City coach made one adjustment from last week’s win over the Toffees with Lauren Hemp making her first start since healing from a fitness issue.

Commanding Opening Period

The trouble started to accumulate for Skinner and his team from the opening minute. This was a exhibition of the power from Manchester City whose potent offense manipulated and tore United open with a superb first half showing that saw them score three goals in under half an hour.

This put the hosts in a commanding position and saw the visitors disorganized. In advance of this fixture, the away side had conceded just a handful in this domestic competition but they fell apart in the face of City’s attacking flair.

Initial Opportunities

The omens came early when Vivianne Miedema used her strength to push Julia Zigiotti off the ball, only to send her shot off target. Hemp was at the center of everything from the start, taking advantage of the room left by Riviere down the visitors' wing. Her deliveries were posing a threat and led to an opportunity for Yui Hasegawa that Anna Sandberg kicked off the line.

United had several forays ahead, their long-ball tactic giving them choices in the flanks but they could not challenge Ayaka Yamashita. Manchester City, on the other hand, commanded the ball, probing their rivals and trying to pull them out of their defensive shape.

Triple Strike

They converted their dominance with almost thirty minutes played when Aoba Fujino won the hosts a corner. A ball to the far post was directed across goal by Shaw for Knaak to score. It was Manchester City's seventh goal from a cross of the season.

They increased their lead with another pair of goals just before the break. When Rose was permitted to drive through the midfield from central defence, the play opened up for the hosts. The prominent Kerstin Casparij collected the pass on the right before delivering a pinpoint low cross for Bunny Shaw to force home. Four minutes later, they had a third after a quick change in the ball saw Lauren Hemp given the opportunity to fire a effort home from range.

Second Half

The clearest substitution came from the United manager at the half-time as Malard entered for Terland but by this time it was futile to alter the outcome of the match. Ex- City player Park came closest, hitting the woodwork, but the visitors were offensively poor and were unable to record a solitary shot on target.

The home side, meanwhile, could have added to their cushion when a delightful Vivianne Miedema long ball sent Shaw away only for her to fail to convert but it mattered little to the hosts. After failing to beat any side who placed above them last season, City's side now have successes against Arsenal and United to put them in a favorable situation after the opening fixtures.