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Just as bad weather tore through the northwest the prior day, Manchester City swept United aside at the their home ground. It was a convincing three-nil victory for the City coach's side due to goals from Knaak, Bunny Shaw and Lauren Hemp. It was a display that firmly established their title credentials as they strengthened their position at the top of the table.

Back-to-Back Defeats for United

This outcome signalled successive league losses for the United manager's side for the initial occasion since last May, placing them a significant margin off the league leaders with their championship aspirations hanging by a thread.

The Red Devils' ability to manage domestic and European football with a small squad has been a widely debated issue since they secured entry to the European competition. Looking at the fixture list, it always seemed this was the matchday that would truly test this fortitude. Sadly for the visitors, they looked fatigued throughout, the landmark win against Paris Saint-Germain clearly having had an impact.

Team Changes

The United manager had attempted to freshen things up with a several adjustments. Toone, Terland, Dominique Janssen and Galton all brought vigor, although the dropping of the high-performing Malard to the sidelines was questioned.

City, in opposition, have no such fitness issues. Jeglertz made one adjustment from last week’s win over the Toffees with Hemp making her initial starting appearance since returning from a physical setback.

Overpowering Start

The storm clouds started to accumulate for Skinner and his squad from the opening minute. This was a exhibition of the power from City whose potent forward line manipulated and pulled the visitors apart with a sublime first half showing that saw them net a trio in just over twenty minutes.

This left the home team in a commanding position and had Manchester United all at sea. Before this encounter, the away side had let in just six in this domestic competition but they fell apart in the wake of Manchester City's attacking flair.

Early Chances

The early indicators came soon when Vivianne Miedema used her physicality to push Julia Zigiotti off the ball, only to drag her shot past the post. Lauren Hemp was at the heart of everything early on, exploiting the gap left by Riviere down United’s right side. Her crosses were posing a threat and led to an chance for Yui Hasegawa that Sandberg scrambled off the line.

United had several sorties forward, their long-ball tactic giving them options in the wide areas but they could not trouble Yamashita. Manchester City, in the meantime, controlled the ball, teasing their opposition and trying to draw them out of their organization.

Goals Galore

They made their pressure count with almost thirty minutes played when Fujino won the home team a corner. A ball to the back post was headed across goal by Shaw for Knaak to head in. It was Manchester City's 7th headed goal of the campaign.

They extended their cushion with two more goals just before the interval. When Jade Rose was able to drive through the midfield from central defence, the play widened for the hosts. The prominent Casparij received possession on the wing before providing a accurate low cross for Bunny Shaw to force home. A short time later, they had a third after a rapid shift in possession saw Lauren Hemp allowed the room to strike a effort home from outside the box.

Second Half

The clearest adjustment came from the United manager at the interval as Malard entered for Elisabeth Terland but by this time it was too late to alter the outcome of the game. Former Manchester City player Jess Park came nearest, rattling the upright, but the away team were offensively poor and failed to register a solitary shot on target.

The hosts, in contrast, could have extended their cushion when a delightful Vivianne Miedema long ball sent Bunny Shaw away only for her to miss the chance but it did not affect the result to the hosts. Having failed to defeat any opponent who placed above them the previous campaign, the manager's side now have victories against Arsenal and United to position them in a strong standing after nine matches.