🔗 Share this article

Similar to Storm Claudia tore through the north-west the previous evening, City blew Manchester United aside at the Etihad. It was a statement three goal triumph for their manager's side due to goals from Rebecca Knaak, Bunny Shaw and Hemp. It was a result that truly announced their leadership claims as they consolidated their standing at the league summit.

Successive Defeats for Manchester United

This result represented consecutive league losses for Marc Skinner’s side for the initial occasion since May 2024, placing them a significant margin off the top team with their championship aspirations hanging by a thread.

The Red Devils' ability to juggle league and European soccer with a thin squad has been a widely debated issue since they earned a place in the European competition. Looking at the calendar, it always seemed this was the period that would truly test this capability. Sadly for the away side, they seemed tired all game, the landmark win against the French side clearly having had an impact.

Tactical Shifts

The United manager had attempted to rotate the squad with a several alterations. Ella Toone, Terland, Janssen and Leah Galton all added freshness, although the exclusion of the in-form Malard to the substitutes was questioned.

The hosts, in opposition, have no such fitness concerns. Jeglertz made a single alteration from their most recent win over the Toffees with Hemp making her initial starting appearance since healing from a physical setback.

Commanding Opening Period

The storm clouds started to build for the United boss and his side from the first whistle. This was a demonstration of the strength from Manchester City whose energetic attack controlled and tore United open with a excellent first half display that saw them score three goals in just over twenty minutes.

This put the hosts firmly in control and had Manchester United struggling. Before this encounter, United had allowed just few in this domestic competition but they collapsed in the face of City’s attacking flair.

Opening Threats

The early indicators came early when Vivianne Miedema used her power to muscle Julia Zigiotti off the ball, only to drag her shot past the post. Lauren Hemp was at the core of everything in the beginning, taking advantage of the space left by Jayde Riviere down United’s right side. Her crosses were posing a threat and led to an opportunity for Yui Hasegawa that Sandberg cleared off the line.

United had a number of attacks ahead, their long-ball tactic giving them options in the wings but they could not trouble Ayaka Yamashita. Manchester City, in the meantime, dominated possession, taunting their opponents and trying to pull them out of their structure.

Triple Strike

They turned chances into goals with almost the first period played when Aoba Fujino won the hosts a corner. A delivery to the far post was nodded across goal by Bunny Shaw for Knaak to score. It was City’s seventh headed goal of the season.

They extended their cushion with two more goals just before the half-time. When Jade Rose was permitted to drive through the middle from central defence, the pitch opened up for City. The prominent Kerstin Casparij picked the ball up on the right before sending a accurate driven ball for Bunny Shaw to force home. Shortly later, they had a third goal after a swift change in possession saw Lauren Hemp given the opportunity to strike a shot home from distance.

After the Break

The most obvious substitution came from Skinner at the half-time as Malard was introduced for Terland but by this time it was too late to alter the outcome of the match. Ex- Manchester City player Jess Park came closest, rattling the post, but the away team were offensively poor and did not manage to record a single shot on goal.

The hosts, on the other hand, could have increased their lead when a superb Miedema through ball sent Bunny Shaw away only for her to fluff her lines but it did not affect the result to the winning team. Previously unable to defeat any side who ended above them last season, the manager's side now have victories against Arsenal and Manchester United to put them in a strong situation after nine matches.