The Citizens 3-0 The Red Devils: Hemp scores in Manchester City comfortable victory.

Just as Storm Claudia tore through the northern region the night before, City overwhelmed United away at the their home ground. It was a convincing three-nil victory for Andrée Jeglertz’s side owing to goals from Knaak, Shaw and Lauren Hemp. It was a display that clearly signaled their leadership claims as they reinforced their position at the WSL pinnacle.

Consecutive Losses for Manchester United

This scoreline marked successive Women's Super League setbacks for Marc Skinner’s side for the initial occasion since last May, leaving them a significant margin off the league leaders with their title hopes severely dented.

The Red Devils' capability to manage domestic and European football with a small roster has been a hotly discussed subject since they qualified for the Champions League. Reviewing the schedule, it always appeared this was the period that would truly test this fortitude. Unfortunately for the opposition, they seemed tired throughout, the memorable win against the French side clearly having taken a toll.

Lineup Adjustments

Skinner had tried to rotate the squad with a several alterations. Ella Toone, Elisabeth Terland, Janssen and Galton all provided energy, although the omission of the high-performing Malard to the bench was questioned.

City, in contrast, have fewer loading worries. The City coach made one change from last week’s win over Everton with Hemp making her return to the lineup since healing from a physical setback.

Commanding Opening Period

The trouble started to gather for Skinner and his squad from the opening minute. This was a show of the power from City whose dynamic attack 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 left the home team in a commanding position and left United all at sea. In advance of this encounter, United had let in just six in this league campaign but they disintegrated in the wake of Manchester City's creative prowess.

Initial Opportunities

The omens came soon when Vivianne Miedema used her strength to bundle Julia Zigiotti off the ball, only to pull her shot past the post. Hemp was at the heart of everything in the beginning, using the space left by Riviere down the visitors' right flank. Her passes were causing problems and led to an opportunity for Yui Hasegawa that Sandberg kicked off the line.

United had a number of sorties ahead, their direct style giving them options in the wings but they could not test the City goalkeeper. City, on the other hand, controlled possession, probing their opposition and trying to lure them of their structure.

Scoring Spree

They turned chances into goals with almost half an hour played when Fujino won the home team a corner. A ball to the far post was nodded across goal by Bunny Shaw for Rebecca Knaak to score. It was Manchester City's 7th headed goal of the campaign.

They extended their advantage with two more goals just before the interval. When Jade Rose was allowed to drive through the center from central defence, the field widened for the hosts. The key Casparij picked the ball up on the right side before providing a pinpoint low cross for Bunny Shaw to tap home. A short time later, they had a third after a quick turnover in the ball saw Lauren Hemp given the room to drive a effort home from range.

Final Period

The most obvious adjustment came from the United manager at the break as Melvine Malard was introduced for Elisabeth Terland but by this time it was futile to alter the outcome of the match. Ex- City player Jess Park came closest, rattling the post, but the away team were lacking in ideas and failed to produce a single shot on target.

The hosts, meanwhile, could have extended their advantage when a superb Miedema long ball sent Bunny Shaw away only for her to miss the chance but it mattered little to the hosts. After failing to defeat any opponent who placed above them last season, City's side now have victories against Arsenal and Manchester United to position them in a commanding standing after the opening fixtures.