The Citizens Three-Nil The Red Devils: Lauren Hemp on target in City dominant win.

Just as the recent storm swept through the northwest the night before, the home side blew Manchester United aside at the their home ground. It was a statement 3-0 win for Andrée Jeglertz’s side owing to goals from Knaak, Bunny Shaw and Lauren Hemp. It was a result that clearly signaled their championship potential as they reinforced their standing at the WSL pinnacle.

Successive Setbacks for Manchester United

This outcome represented successive WSL losses for Marc Skinner’s side for the initial occasion since last May, putting them a sizable gap off the table toppers with their championship aspirations in serious doubt.

The Red Devils' ability to manage league and continental football with a thin team has been a widely debated issue since they earned a place in the Champions League. Reviewing the calendar, it always appeared this was the matchday that would fully examine this fortitude. Unfortunately for the opposition, they seemed weary all game, the memorable win against the French side clearly having left its mark.

Team Changes

Marc Skinner had sought to freshen things up with a several alterations. Ella Toone, Terland, Dominique Janssen and Leah Galton all provided vigor, although the exclusion of the on-form Melvine Malard to the sidelines raised a few eyebrows.

The hosts, in comparison, have no such loading worries. Andrée Jeglertz made one adjustment from the previous win over the Toffees with Lauren Hemp making her first start since recovering from injury.

Dominant First Half

The trouble started to build for Skinner and his team from the kickoff. This was a demonstration of the power from City whose energetic offense played with and tore United open with a sublime initial 45 minutes showing that saw them score three goals in just over twenty minutes.

This left the home team completely dominant and had Manchester United disorganized. Prior to this match, United had let in just six in this WSL season but they collapsed in the presence of the hosts' attacking flair.

Opening Threats

The early indicators came quickly when Miedema used her power to push Zigiotti off the ball, only to drag her shot off target. Hemp was at the heart of everything in the beginning, taking advantage of the gap left by Jayde Riviere down United’s wing. Her crosses were causing problems and led to an opportunity for Yui Hasegawa that Anna Sandberg kicked off the line.

The Red Devils had multiple forays forward, their direct style giving them options in the wings but they could not trouble the City goalkeeper. City, in the meantime, commanded possession, teasing their rivals and trying to pull them out of their organization.

Scoring Spree

They turned chances into goals with almost half an hour played when Aoba Fujino won the home team a set-piece. A cross to the far post was directed across goal by Shaw for Rebecca Knaak to nod home. It was City’s seventh goal from a cross of the season.

They increased their lead with an additional two goals just before the break. When Rose was allowed to drive through the middle from central defence, the field widened for City. The influential Kerstin Casparij received possession on the right before providing a accurate ground pass for Bunny Shaw to force home. Shortly later, they had a third after a quick turnover in possession saw Hemp given the room to fire a effort home from distance.

Second Half

The clearest adjustment came from Skinner at the break as Melvine Malard was introduced for Terland but by this time it was too late to shift the momentum of the game. Former Manchester City player Park came most likely to score, hitting the upright, but the away team were offensively poor and failed to record a single shot on goal.

The hosts, on the other hand, could have added to their lead when a superb Miedema pass sent Bunny Shaw away only for her to miss the chance but it mattered little to the hosts. Previously unable to overcome any opponent who finished above them the previous campaign, City's side now have successes against Arsenal and Manchester United to put them in a favorable situation after nine matches.