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Just as bad weather swept through the northwest the prior day, the home side swept the visitors aside at the Etihad Stadium. It was a emphatic three goal win for the City coach's side owing to goals from Knaak, Shaw and Hemp. It was a display that clearly signaled their championship potential as they consolidated their position at the WSL pinnacle.

Consecutive Defeats for Manchester United

This scoreline signalled consecutive league setbacks for the United manager's side for the maiden instance since last May, putting them a sizable gap off the league leaders with their title hopes hanging by a thread.

United’s capability to juggle domestic and European football with a thin team has been a hotly discussed issue since they secured entry to the Champions League. Reviewing the schedule, it always seemed this was the week that would truly test this capability. Unfortunately for the visitors, they looked weary throughout, the landmark win against the French side clearly having taken a toll.

Team Changes

Skinner had sought to make changes with a handful of alterations. Toone, Terland, Dominique Janssen and Leah Galton all provided vigor, although the dropping of the high-performing Malard to the sidelines raised a few eyebrows.

The hosts, in contrast, have no similar workload issues. The City coach made one adjustment from the previous win over Everton with Lauren Hemp making her first start since recovering from injury.

Overpowering Start

The storm clouds started to accumulate for Skinner and his side from the opening minute. This was a show of the strength from Manchester City whose potent attack manipulated and tore United open with a superb opening period performance that saw them score three goals in 21 minutes.

This left the home team firmly in control and had Manchester United all at sea. Before this encounter, United had let in just a handful in this WSL season but they collapsed in the presence of City’s offensive ingenuity.

Early Chances

The omens came early when Miedema used her strength to push Zigiotti off the ball, only to send her shot past the post. Hemp was at the heart of everything from the start, taking advantage of the gap left by Riviere down United’s wing. Her crosses were posing a threat and led to an attempt for Yui Hasegawa that Sandberg kicked off the line.

The Red Devils had several sorties forwards, their long-ball tactic giving them alternatives in the flanks but they could not challenge Ayaka Yamashita. Manchester City, on the other hand, controlled possession, taunting their opposition and trying to draw them out of their defensive shape.

Goals Galore

They converted their dominance with almost thirty minutes played when Fujino won the home team a corner. A ball to the back post was nodded across goal by Shaw for Knaak to score. It was Manchester City's seventh goal from a cross of the campaign.

They extended their lead with two more goals just before the break. When Rose was permitted to drive through the middle from central defence, the play widened for the hosts. The key Kerstin Casparij received possession on the right before sending a pinpoint low cross 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 effort home from distance.

Second Half

The clearest change came from the United manager at the interval as Melvine Malard entered for Elisabeth Terland but by this time it was ineffective to change the course of the game. Former City player Jess Park came nearest, rattling the post, but the visitors were lacking in ideas and failed to record a one shot on goal.

The home side, on the other hand, could have extended their cushion when a superb Miedema long ball sent Bunny Shaw away only for her to fail to convert but it mattered little to the winning team. Having failed to defeat any opponent who placed above them last season, the manager's side now have wins against the Gunners and Manchester United to place them in a commanding situation after nine games.